The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-03
lola Man at Head of Good Roads
Association.
/. ID. Graham Of Topeka Secre-
tary and Treasurer.
WILL BE REGULAR.
in August Of Every
Year.
A State Inspector OF Roads Il
Wanted.

The Kansas Good Roads association
completed its first annual session in
Topeka at o'clock this afternoon with
the election of Grant Bilbee, secretary
of the Commercial club of lola as pres
ident; I. D. Graham of Topeka as Sec
rotary and treasurer; vice president
First district, H. w. McAfee; vice pres
ident Second district, C. L. McClung,
Kansas City, Kan. vice president Third
district, Ed Shemhorn of Galena; vice
president Fourth district, w. S. VIII
hanson of Emporia; vice president
Fifth district, Alfred Docking of Man
haitian. Representatives from the
Sixth and Seventh districts were not
present and no elections were made for
them.
The most important act which the
convention did this morning was to
start a movement for the appointment
of a state inspector of roads. The step
was recommended by S1,e committee on
resolutions, consisting of 1. D. Hibner,
Olathe; A. ]. Smith, Emporia; w. A.
TankSley, ChautauQua; w. 7. Dixon,
Carbonate; A. L. Hitchings, Burlin-
game. Their report aroused a great
deal of discussion. Some favored the
appointment of a state good roads COM
mission to consist of three members.
Another argued to leave the whole mat
ter to the supervision of the State Agri-
cultural college. Robert Stone of To-
peka took the floor and made hard
when the proposition was put to a
vote, 1t won out.
The place will of course be a state
position, paid and under the direction
of the state. Nothing was said in the
resolution with regard to what the SAL
airy or term of office snail be. The leg
islative committee will try to have a
bill passed next winter providing for
the creation of the office. The resolu-
ton covering the matter was as fol-
lows: Large sums of money are raised
by taxation for road purposes in Kan
sas and much of the road tax is un-
wisely spent for lack of engineering
skill and intelligent economy. There
fore be it resolved that a practical state
engineer shall be placed in charge and
have supervision over the road officers
of the state, and who will work with
all city surveyors and supervisors in
creating system and economy"
The committee on resolutions also re-
ported in favor of the employment OF
tax instead of working it out" Both
of these resolutions passed without dis
cussion or opposition. Nothing was
suggested with regard to what plans
should be followed in regard to the en-
ployment of prison inmates.
The association was organized per-
manently. But one standing committee
was ordered and that will be for legis-
lative purposes and it is to consist of
twelve members to be selected by the
president and secretary of the associa-
ton. To pay the expenses of maintain
ing the organization a fee of one dollar
per year will be collected from every
member of the state organization.
The first Tuesday in August was Sc
lected the date for holding the an
nual convention. Headquarters will
be at Topeka and consequently the
convention will also come here annual
ly.
Efforts will be made by the delegates
to form as many county organizations
over the state as possible and have all
of them send delegates to the state
convention in Topeka next year. At
that time it is planned to have an i'm
mense meeting and to start an era of
road building in the state which will
mark an epoch.
The morning was devoted to discus
sion of dirt road building. The princi-
pal speaker was Professor Haworth of
Kansas State university, who gave
most of his time to technical discussion
of the matter.
Previous to the calling of the morn
ing session, the Topeka Street Railway
company took the delegates over the
city for an hour in seeing Topeka"
car.
There were almost 100 delegates in
upon the convention and
the leaders were more than pleased
with the success which has attended
their efforts.