The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-24
URGE MEASURES TO
OBTAIN GOOD ROADS
State Association Win Endeav-
or to Secure a Law Creating
Highway Commission.

"a change Of representation from a
certain legislative district in Mime
apolis is necessary before the good
roads interests can be effectively ad-
vanced through the Minnesota legisla-
ture." M
This reference, understood to indi-
cate the chairman of the roads and
bridges committee of the Minnesota
house of representatives, was made
with emphasis yesterday afternoon at
the annual convention of the State
Good Roads association, by Prof. w. R.
Hoag, head of the department of civil
engineering includes road maxi
ing-at the state university.
The two score delegates to the con-
vention were welcomed at the Com
mercial club yesterday morning by
Railroad Commissioner G.. F. Staples,
In the absence of Gov. Van SAINT, who
was out of town. Mayor Smith was
also unable to attend the session.
President George w. Cooley, of Min
neapolis, expressed regret at the fail
ure Of the last legislature to pass the
bill creating a state highway commits
sion. He recommended that a COM
mittee be named to put the matter eff
fectively before the Gopher lawmakers
next year. He also reviewed the move
ment for national legislation by which
$24,OOO000 would be appropriated, dur
ing three years. towards the expense of
improving roads in all the states. But
each state must expend an amount
equal to the federal grant in order to
make that grant available. The appor-
tionment for Minnesota, should the bill
pass, would be- $563,3T9
Several additions hpQn made
during the year, said Mr.. Cooley, to
the number of county good roads asso-
Citations, of which there are now ten in
Minnesota.
Secretary r. w. Richardson, of
Washington, D. c., secretary Of the Ma
tional Good Roads association, urged
the necessity Of federal assistance if
the cause of good froads was to be adj
vaneed with due rapidity.
Automobiles Clubs Cut Out.
In the afternoon President Cooley
submitted a model constitution for
county organizations. 1t was adopted,
after changing the conditions of eligi-
bility so as to admit "all persons in
terested." An original reference to s'au-
tomobile clubs" as eligible was strick-
en- out in Difference to the prejudices of
some farmers.
The president next appointed the
committee on legislation, to-Wit: A. o.
Eberhardt, c. T. Opdahl, o. N. Peter
son, S. L. Meyer, NJ. c. Trosser, c.. A.
Forbes and Prof. w. M. Hayes.
c. A. Forbes, of Dakota county, adj
vocated doing road work by contract.
The standard grade Of the road should
first be established by a surveyor.
A number OF papers were omitted be-
cause of the absences of the writer's.
Taking up the subjects of several pa
pers, President Cooley advised that
roads be located along the lines of least
resistance rather than along county
lines. Roads should always be fbuilt
with an. eye to the future. He laid
much stress upon the necessity for
placing every road, as soon as COM
pleted, in the care Of competent re-
pairers.
1t was then that Prof. Hoag, taking
the place of s. b. Mcintyre, Houston
county, who was to speak upon 'eThe
Highway Commission" declared that
good roads interests were imperiled In
the legislature by the Minneapolis rep
resentative already mentioned.
Should Favor Highway Commission.
State Senator Eberhart, of Mankato,
had said that objections raised to the
highway commission bill had been in
definite; critics had insisted that it was
good legislation, but that 1.-The people
didn't want it." The senator advised
that political county conventions be in
duced to favor the highway commits
sion, then members of the legislature
would be less tiIflid about supporting
the measure; The Twin City newspa-
pers had proved valuable advocates of
the desired legislation, and it was to be
hoped that the 4country papers would
lend a helping hand.
A resolution was passed approving
the amendment to the state constitu-
ton providing for highway commits
sion and for sta.tes aid in the construc-
ton of public highways. The resolu-
ton urged that the amendment be
made effective by the next legislature
Other resolutions Endorsed the present
bill before congress providing aid in the
construction Of highways; accepted the
invitation to send delegates to the
meeting Of the national and interna-
tional good roads association at St.
Louis next May; thanked Col. Richard
son, secretary of the national associa-
ton, for his instructive address, and
thanked the Commercial club, the
Chamber of Commerce and the city of
st. Paul. Delegates to the st. Louis
convention as named in the resolution,
are: George w. Cooley, James T. Ell
well, Nathan Butler, Prof w. M.
Hayes, E. A. Everett, Prof. w. r. Hoag,
George L. Wilson, C. A. Forbes, w. c..
Fraser, T. E. eastman, w. A. Funk, G.
A. VIII, Ole N. Peterson, Senator A. o.
Eberhart, George A Ralph, E. Erick-
son. s. B. McIntire, r. HI. Hall and f.
w. LossoW.
Subsequent resolutions were adopted
that the present system of road build
ing be abandoned and that the road tax
be paid in cash instead of labor, and
that copies of the principal resolutions
be sent to Minnesota representatives In
congress.
just before the final adjournment the
convention reelected President George
w. Cooley, of Minneapolis, and named
Prof. w. r. Hoag> as secretary in place
of George L. Wilson. A constitution for
the state association will be reported at
the next annual meeting, which will be
held in st. Paul at time to be fixed
by the executive committee.
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