The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-02

listen to instructive addresses. Such
convention seldom adjourns without
forming permanent organization.
Mainly in this way good roads asso-
Citations have been formed in all sec
tions, and by them the work of edu-
cation and agitation has been carried
OF.
y,At great National convention for
consideration of the road Improvement
question, held in Chicago, in Novem-
ber, 1900, the National Good Roads AS
sociation was organized, and it has
since grown until, with its affiliated
State, district and local associations,
1T is without doubt the greatest or
ganization Of the kind in existence
But 1T is not the only National organ
ization Of this kind. The American
Roadmakers. of which the Hon. James
III. Macdonald, of Connecticut, is Prcsi-
dent, is organized in nearly every sec
ton OF the United States, ana its re.
cent annual convention at Hartford,
Conn. was attended by several ham
dred delegates.
In 1901. IN international congress Of
persons interested in road improve
ment was held at Buffalo, in conncc-
ton with the Pan-Amcrcan EXp0si.
ton. All sections of the United States
and several foreign countries were rep
resented.
1t would be impossible in this brief
review of the good roads movement
to even mention the many important
conventions which have been held
11n
1892. But no history of the movement
would be complete without some ac-
count of the National convention held
at ST. Louis at the time the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition was dedicated.
In the number OF leading public men
who attended and participated, this
gathering far exceeded any of its
predecessors. Address, were dcliv.
cred by. President Roosevelt Hon. A.
G. Latimer, Colonel William j. Bryan
General Miles and by several Con
gressmen aud Governors of States, as
well rs many other men Of National
prominence.
National Aid Movement Launched
The most significant feature OF the
St Louis meeting was the launching
OF the National aid plan. Colonel W.
+. Brownl0w, Of Tennessee. had given
this plan prominence before the coun-
try by introducing q bill in the Fifty
seventh Congress providing that ihf'
Government should cooperate with th,
states in the Improvement Of the roads,
and pay one half OF the expense.
From the frst this proposition ut
racteu much favorable attention CO.
pecially anon" the rural population.
But the idea was fairly launched on
its National career by the convention
at st. Louis. II was, in fact, the prin-
cipal theme of discussion and the SEN
itment for it was wel-nigh mani-
nous.
Good Roads in Congress The st.
Louis convention created q committee
representing all sections OF the country
to go to Washington, lay its demands
before Congress, and argue in favor
of the Nations help in the work or
improving the roads. Last January the
Committee On Agriculture in both the
Senate and House granted public hear.
lngs TO this committees; ana the Gen
ate has since issncd report of the
hearing for distribution to the people.
On the whole il must be said that tue
advocates OF National aid made Out n
strong case, ana the report contains
Il large amount Of valuable informa-
ton.
The Senate committee has since &c.
cidca by Il vote Of six 10 one 10 make
favorable report on the Iatimcr bill.
with some amendments, and this ro-
port will 80 before the Senate ror
action at the next session.
That public sentiment is generally
favorable TO the National aid uronogi-
tion is shown by the fact that il has
been endorsed 10y the Legislatures uc
six States, by the National Grange. tie
Trans-Misssspp Commercial Con
grcsS, the American Mining Congress-.
and by State ana local conventions and
organizations Of many kinds in oil
parts of the country
state Aid.-No history OF this move
ment wonld be complete without come
reference 10 the state aid plan In
ract tho greatest actual accomplish
ment Of the movement is that il lns
secured the adoption Of this plan in
ten states. The essential features of
this plan are the creation of q state
Highway Commission, and the cooper.
alton OF the State with the counties
and towns in the work OF road i'm.
pfovenient, each bearing a fixed portion
or the expense, though, no two states
have adopted exactly the same plan.
All the northeastern States from Maine
to Pennsylvania md Maryland have
adopted State aid, and the results Sc
cured are 80 satisfactory that the popu-
larity OF the plan increases every year.
In New Jersey the Stdte pays one.
third OF the cost OF road improvcmcn!
ana the Legislature now approDrates
S250,CO0 annually. In Connecticut the
state pays two-thirds OF the expenses
and the annual appropriations are
$226,000. Massachusetts, spends nearly
half q million year, the State pay
ing three-fourths Of the cost. In New
York the State pays one.half the cost
and the last Legislature made an ar,