The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-23

those who would see better highways
built, Such experiences ~ those which
have been brought out in the recent
race to this convention will be pregnant
in results, The lessons which they
have taught are many, and the people
to whose attention these lessons will
come most wildly are the men whose
brains and money must take the lead
in solving these highway problems, We
ought to have established one or more
good through wagon roads from the
Atlantic to San Francisco, and to the
Northwest.
The necessity for such roads first
received official utterance at good
roads convention held in the City Of
Denver, nearly five years ago, At this
convention the Honorable Martin Dodge
who had just been appointed Director
OF the Office Of Public Road Inquiries of
the United States Government, dcliv.
cred u memorable address, of which
the controlling thought was this great
need for such highways, A short time
before that wild and visionary article
had appeared in one OF the magazines
advocating q boulevard 200 feet wide
from ocean to ocean, with its separate
division for vehicles, bicycles, pedcs
trians, trees, grass, flowers, and | don't
know what else. Senator Dodge's ad.
dress was practical and timely. have
watched with interest the course of
highway legislation in that state since,
and | have seen clearly that his address
concentrated attention ON one of Col.
orado's great needs. Since that time
many thousands OF dollars have been
expended in improving continuous
through the canyons OF that state.
"Whem Tom Fitch successfully drove
the Packard car from san Francisco
to New York. he found the road through
this canyan one Of the delightful ex-
periences OF his trip. Some money has
been appropriated by each legislature
in recent years for the Improvement
Of that road, just as an artery through
the state The people of Colorado feel
that her ATTRACTIONS warrant the estab'
lishmenE of this transcontlnental road
through Denver and Colorado Springs,
and this. desire viii be an important
influence in ofrcctiny improvements
along that road.
Il believe that the next session of
the Legislature win provide fcr the uss
of the cpnyitts on the road The terri
tory of New Mexico has set the example
by using its coDvicts in constructing
such an artery, and has TAKEN the IN
itial sup in the building of a good
through road from III Paso III the Vel
lowstDne Park. In that territory this
road will be principally constructsd by
convict labor. On this Coast the Hon.
Lionel r.. Webster is leading a move
ment 0n foot TO construct a public
road frpm Portland to uho summit of
the sskiyous. This subject is aihnady
being, practically agitatrd in tin stnte
of Washington; while the FL Canine
Real agitation in California, led by
that remarkable woman, Caroline II.
0lheS ID going to resnlt in q continr
uous highway frum Tia Jnana tn Ore
gonl.
Il believe that the next wo yaars.
wilF see the. policy itmugurated of err
loyihe the csmyicts OF these ttinee stairs
in work upsn that highway, which will
eventually bad from, British Columbia
To Mexico, and become ths Riviera Of
tie Pacific slope.
II no, other permanent innsenoe
should c4Mne out from tAis cOnvGntaOn,
+ believe, that IL will be ~, epoch in the
/ movement for highway reform, Ter the
discussions here shall spread de.
mand throughout this country for the
construction of some, transcontinantal
highways, an9 / feel certain shat with
that dsmand will lie. coupled also a
demand that the potential activities ef
our oOnvicts, now wasted or misapplied,
shall be utaized as one Of hhe effective
means by which these transcontinental
Highways shall be secured.