The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1904-01-30
GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.
Over Five Hundred Representative
Citizens From All Parts of the
State in Attendance.
PAST YEARS WORK MOST GRATIFYING
Resolutions Adopted and Proposed
Legislation Outlined - Convention
Endorses Erownlow Bill for Nation
al Aid-NswIy Elected officers.

That the people Of Arkansas are
thoroughly alive TO the great necessity
for better roads, and are gen.
erously aiding toward accomplish
ing the desired end, is evidenced
by the interest taken in the good
roads convention held in Little Rock
last week, which was attended by over
five hundred Of the states most sub
stantial citizens. Politics were en-
tirely eliminated from the proceedings
Of the convention, and measures and
not men were discussed. Hon. W. II,
Moore, president of the National Good
Roads Association, and Hon. j. b.
Killebrew, a special agent Of the ma.
tional governments good roads depart
ment, were among the speakers,
After the usual welcome address
and response, the convention got
down to business by electng Hon. S.
Q, Sewer Of Camden president, and
Hon. O. C. Ludwig of Little Rock, sec
rotary. On taking the chair Presi-
dent Sewer reviewed the work for
good roads the last year He said in
part:
During the past year orr own be
loved state has been partially organ.
lied and the results are clearly visible
here today. Good roads advocates
which is beginning to force the minds
Of the people and the results in a short
time will be 50 great that II will be
asked, why for so many years has
this idea Of improving the local high.
ways been overlooked"
when it is fully realized by the
great masses of the people that the
good roads association aims simply
at lcssening the cost of interior trans.
portation and adding to the comfort
Of country life, there will be loosen.
ing Of the state and national purse.
strings,
Look over this house and scruti.
ni2e the delegations from the various
counties. Go into all Of the other
states and look over the good roads
conventions, and there read the pro.
gress which has been made, These
conventions are vivid and lasting illus.
trations, telling the story more clio.
Quontly and more forcbly than ! can.
Look over the public records Of your
state and see the dawnlng Of new
era in road building by taxation, In
the lcyyIng Of road tax by counties,
and In the forming Of improvement
districts for the purpose Of building
and identifying streets.
"Tho old method Of warning out
hands to spend n few hours at time
for few days in drinking branch
water and cracking Jokes on the
country highway ostensibly improving
It, is doomed and in few years 1t
will be a memory. Why? Because 1t
is cheaper to be taxed and have your
roads built with ready money than to
work and build them with warned
road hands, Taxation reaches every,
body, every corporation and every In
tercst, while warning ont hands means
q few giving their time for the benefit
Of all. Ready money brings the best
results because It secures the best
labor and leaves tho farmer tho Ia.
borcr the artisan and the mNnufac
turor free 10 apply his earning capac'
ity 10 the work IN hand"
Secretary Brown reported that the
past years business consisted Of a
systematic course Of educational
work A vast quantity Of literature
was distributed gratis 10 citizens IT.
all sections Of the state, and the intcr
est IN the movement Ia very crafty.
Ing,
In discussing road work, Hon, w H.
Moore, president Of the National Good
Roads Association, said the FIRST
thing 10 DO was to buy the right Kind
Of machinery and use the right KIND
Of material Touching upon the prop
Gstion Of national aid, Mr. Moore out
lined the plans Of the national N8so'
citation TO ask congress TO provide for
series Of great national highways,
that Of the central dlsylonktS yg
that ~ the central division starting In
Chicago ana running TO Galveston,
Toyp u distance Of 1890 mIlos, via 81
Louis, littlo Rock nnd ToyafklnA,
The Atlantic coast division, beginning
NJ Augusta Me, aud extending 10
Miami, Fla embraced l7lo milos, the
Pacific onnst rond from Vancouver 10
San Diego, cnlp liD3 mloa Tho
northern, or lake division, road, New
York to Duluth 1880 miles, the cen.
tfal division, east ana west Washing.
ton 10 Sacramento 1850 miles; the
gur or southern division, road. Day.
ton 10 Corpus Christi 1890. The
plans involved an expenditure Of
tG38 900 for each state
In hla address Hon ] H. KlloOfoW
stated that he had attended c0nyon.
,on. In many states, and nowhere had
he witnessed greater Interest than
was shown by the large attendance at
this convention lie pointed out what
no conceived Ia be- needed reforms IN
order that tho greatest good may be
brought about IN road Improvement,