The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-05-17
GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.

st. Louis is to be the convention
city this year, but probably none of
the conventions held there will be Of
more practical interest to the coun-
try at large than the national and in
ternational good roads convention,
which meets this week.
The good roads movement is about
twelve years old, or rather it began
to assume national importance about
twelve years ago. There had been
more or less agitation of the subject
by a few enthusiasts who called a
convention to be held at Chicago in
connection with the Columbian expo
sition. The success of that call was
a great surprise as it developed the
fact that a great deal more interest
was taken in this subject than was
generally supposed.
A committee appointed at that con-
vention laid the matter Of good roads
before congress and secured the es
tablishment in the department of ag-
riculture Of the office of public road in
quiries, with an appropriation Of s1O.-
900. The work of this roads bureau
was to collect and disseminate infor-
nation on the subject. 1t was to as
certain conditions under which roads
are built in different parts of the
country, where available materials
might be had, and furnish this infor-
nation free. Later the work of the
government took the form of object
lessons in the building of good roads.
Experts equipped with machinery
designed for road building were
sent to different parts Of the
country on request of associations or
mOnstrating how roads should be
built. The government incurred no
expense for materials or labor, the ex
pense being borne in some form or
other by the people OF the localities
where the lessons were given. These
demonstrations always reused deep in
terest and usually resulted in the for
nation of a local or state association
An appropriation Of $4,000 is now
made annually for this office Of pub
lie road inquiries. and experimental
work is carried on under it's direction.
Several national good roads conven-
tons have been held, and the whole
movement has received a great i'm
petus during the past three or four
years. The most ambitious PROPOSE
ton made in connection with this
movement thus far is that for which
Representative Brownlow OF Tennes-
see stands. What is known as the
Brownlow bill, which provides that
the federal government shall assist in
road building by bearing a portion Of
the expense, distributed by states, is
before both houses. The senate COM
mittee by a vote of to l, decided at
! the last session on favorable report.
| Not as much progress has been made
| In the house and the whole PROPOSE
| ton is viewed with apprehension by
a good many conservative people who
view with alarm the possibilities of
opening the treasury Of the United
| States to the demands Of the road
| builders.
But aside from the merits of the
| BrOwnlow proposition. the agitation
in favor of good roads has already
produced important results. Demon
strations in road building have awak-
ened an appreciation of the import
ance and value of good roads which is
sure to bring about great improve
ment in road construction all over the
| country. to the great benefit of the
| people in the rural communities, and
| indirectly, the whole public.