Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-07-28
THURSDAY, JULY %.
GOOD ROADS ASSOCIATION.


AS soon as the government as
sumed the form of organization, az
itation for road improvement be.
gan. The history of the Old Nation
al Road, given in this publication
outlines the road improvement cas-,
of the Mississippi river prior to
1910. From $50 to 1850 little atten.
ton was given to road building
West of the Mississippi and Nilsson.
ri rivers trails or trading-post roads
were established. In 1S49 the dis.
covery of gold in California result.
ed in making Il system of continu.
Gus stage roadways from the Mis-
souri, river To San Francisco.
The Civil war of lS6l-65 demon
strated to the Northern aud South
ern combatauis lhe necessity and
value of improved roads. Some OF
the leading generals of the North
and South stated if good roads had
prevailed a. convenient carriers for
moving the armies and munitions
of war. that the war would not have
lasted more than two years and
possibly would not have occurred.
Civilizing Influences such as news.
papers, periodicals, and all other
enlightening forces would have
been dissemina among the peo-
pie in remote districts, thus pre-.
venting much ignorance. supersti.
ton and prejudice.
After the war had ceased, and i.e.
fore the states were adjusted to the
new conditions, a great national
panic prevailed which carried fin.
aucial destruction to every section
of the country in 1873; and not until
1880 did the nation fully recover
from the effects of this widespread
national crisis. About that period
the nation awoke to renew CONNER.
cial life. Railroad mileage was rap.
idly increasing in nearly all states
Factories were re-opened aud new
ones built by the hundreds. The
unparalleled era of real estate spec.
ulation began.
Up to that time no vehicle had
ever appeared which proved such a
strong advocate Of good roads as
the bicycle. Hundreds of bicycle
clubs were formed. Periodicals and
other literature were issued by the
million. followed by demands upon
municipal and Legislative bodies
for better streets and roads. The
bicycle agitation had widespread
influence for progressive road and
street Improvement.
In 1890 convention assembled at
Des Moinee, Iowa, for the consider.
alton of the problems of charities
and corrections. The governor of
Missouri delegated W. II. Moore as
one of the representatives, to that
convention from Missouri. During
the two days session statements
were made that nearly 100000 PEG.
pie were annually arrested in the
United States. but that no munich
pal, state or national Legislation
had been enacted providing any
g, stem of labor for these unfortun-
fortuuates. It was resolved that or
ganization should be extended 10
all states and territories, and that
all municipal and state govern
ments should be memorialized to
recommend the employ msut of able
bodied tramps, Migrants aud pau.
pers, in the improvement of roads,
streets, parks and sewerage, drain.
ing swamps and irrigating the arid
districts.
In 1891 district convention was
called at Kansas City which result
ed in calling the state convention
at ST. Louis. in 1888, to further con-
slider the question ofNcharities, cor
rections and good roads. At both
these conventions W. II. Moore was