The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-12
Good Roads Convention.

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 country at
large than the national and interna-
ttonal good roads convention, which
meets next week.
The good roads movement Is about
twelve years old, or rather 1t began to
assume national Importance about
twelve years ago. There had been
moro CT less agitation Of the subject
by q few enthusiasts who called a con-
vention to be held at Chicago in con-
nection with the Columbian EXPOSE
ton. The success Of that call was a
great surprise as 1t developed the fact
that great deal more interest was
taken in this subject than was gener-
ally 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 agri-
culture of the office of public road In
quiries, with an appropriation of $780,
900. The work Of this roads bureau
was to collect and disseminate infor-
nation on the subject. It 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.
Such an object lesson was given at
the Minnesota state fair two years ago.
Experts equipped with machinery de-
signed for road building were sent to
different parts Of the country on re-
quests of associations or communities
for the purpose Of demonstrating how
roads should be built. The govern
ment incurred no expense for mate
rails or labor, the expense being
borne in some form or other by the
| people Of the localities where the les
sons were given. These demonstra-
tons always reused deep interest and
usually resulted in the formation of a
local or state association. An ap-
preparation of $4,000 is now made
| annually for this. office Of public road
inquiries, and experimental work is
carried on under its direction yss-gsta
Several national good roads conven-
lions have been held, and the whole
movement has received great impe-
tus 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 tr
road building by bearing a portion OF
the expense, distributed by states, Is
before both houses. The senate com.
| mittee by vote of 6 to 1, decided al
the last session on a 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 ii
favor Of good roads has already pro.
duced important results. Demonstra
tions in road building have awakened
an appreciation of the Importance ant
value Of good roads which is sure tt
bring about great improvement II
road construction all over the country
to the great benefit Of the people II
the rural communities, and indirectly
the whole public.