The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-07
FOR prrrEn HroHwAYs.
The Good Roads Convention in New
 Orleans.

OTl9auH.
 NeM Orleans. La, March 6--(Speeial.)-- The importance of the improvement or the country roads in the South gener- alIy represents a constantly growing factor in Southern development. The proposition is not an experiment, as his tory of the known world 10 marked by the fact that great development has al- ways followed the improvement of the roadways through agricultural areas In all countries of the globe.
 From the Roman highways to the ma cadam roads of New York State, the de- velopment has been comparatively slow, and particularly so in this country De- cause of the tremendous distances which intervene between the great commercial centers ana because of the almost inter- minable area utilized by the argricuItufai and suburban population.
 The South with It's undeveloped resour- ces, the question of good roads is all paramount importance, transcending In certain instances even the potential pos slbility of manufacturing which Is more or less dependent upon the evolution in agricuituraI circles and the bringing into production of unproducing fields. No greater or more stimulating influence in this direction could be devised or set in effect than the permanent improve ment or the country IOouWdye
 Tn addition to fostering Improvements in local holdings the beautifying of homes and properties, and the interchange of fraternai relations, permanent and even roadways constitute an aggressive fac- tor in making communities prosperous, intelligent and strenuous.
 The New Orleans Progressive Union, the largest popular commercial organi- sation in the United States, has, at the instigation of the National Good Roads Association, undertaken the organization of a Southern Good Roads Convention which will be held in the city of New Orleans, April and [.
 The propositions involved in roads, road making, and the influence of this irn- provement upon community life will be dealt with exhatlstively by speakers fa- miliar with the subject.
 Delegates will be solicited from the States of Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. and letters will be addressed by the Progressive Union in conjunction with the Governor of Lou isiana, Mayor of the city of New Or leans, National Good Roads Association and the commercial exchanges of New Orleans to commercial organizations, mayoralties, county commissioners and off, ficials of the five States mentioned. These influences will be entitled to nominate delegates to the New Orleans Good Roads Convention, and the railroads east of the Mississippi river and south of the south ern border of Kentucky, and Louisiana and Texas west of the Mississippi have made an abnormally low rate to apply | for the convention dates. This rate will be but slightly in excess of one fare for the round trip and will be an open rate to delegates and to the public desir. t,-.. kafr 0A, .taN A
 President Roosevelt, Secretary Wilson of the Agricultural Department and Sec retary Cortelyou of the Department oi Commerce and Labor have been memor. ialized in connection with the conven- ton and invited to be present. Hon. Mar tin Dodge, director of roads for the Az. | riculturaI Department. will be in at. | tendance as will President W. H. Moore of the National Good Roads Association and several members of the executive committee.
 ent time will undoubtedly lead to ac ton by the Legislature of the variou. States getting in line to take advantage | of the national assistance which will b, accorded to States in the provisions o | several measures now before the Ma tional Congress and which will undoubted ly induce large appropriation by thu National government to be applied t | the various States in proportion to theil own enterprise and appropriations fol road building and development.
 Delegates solicited to attend the South | ern Good Roads Convention by the coun | ty commissioners, business organiza | tions, mayoralties. etc., should at onc' file their names with H. M. Mayo, Sec retary of the New Orleans Progresstv' | Union, New Orleans, La., and that or | ganization and the National Good Road Association urges immediate consideration of the facts included in the call for thu convention and the appointment of dele | gates at once. Details of the low rail road rate may be secured from loca agents of the rail lines at the point O. authorization in any of the five States. Th' importance of the convention and fit probable effect upon community life in tn, five interested States, in the opinion O President Moore of the National Asso ciation, would fully justify the sending of large and representative delegation to the New Orleans meeting.