The Topeka state journal., 1905-08-09

GOod Roads Delegates Swelter
and Talk.
Only a Few of Them Attend the
Meeting.
TALK ROAD BUILDING.
Uses of Crude Oil for This Pur-
pose Discussed.
No Good Roads Train Through
Kansas This Year.
TALK ROAD BUILDING.


temperature which pervaded the Com
mercial club rooms and the rest of the
down town public places on Tuesday
night, had a bout with Good Roads con-
Hention enthusiasm, and almost entirely
knocked it out
Though Secretary I. D. Graham stated
that almost 200 delegates are now in
attendance at the present meeting, just
81, including the officers, were at last
nights session. These sat around in
their shirt sleeves, with sweat-soaked
handkerchiefs jammed down their col
lars, tanning themselves with hats,
newspapers or any old thing that could
be used to agitate the ozone and at
least in a little way disturb the sitting
Enonotony of the thermal waves which
were jammed in between the four walls.
A big electric fan, two feet in dame
ter, was finally cut loose, and it's merry
hum brought at least some alienation
to the sweating disciples of the better
road idea.
But the main bulk of the delegates
were absent The handful of 81 which
attended was faithful and stuck
through the whole proceedings, despite
the fact that the laundries which they
patronize will make more money off
the next bundle which they send in.
Perhaps thA screaming heat ought not
entirely be blamed for the slight attend
ance. The present janitor either must
have not been informed that there was
going to be a meeting or he thought
that the road makers should do their
own portering. At any rate when the
first ones began to arrive about eight
O'Clock the Commercial rooms, the stair
way, and the entrance were darker than
Egypt A fruitless search for the but
ton" box, started Secretary Graham out
in search for his janitorial majesty.
while he was gone, another hunt was
made for the electric light trigger, 1T
was found, and the "glim' turned on.
Just at that time Secretary Graham ap-
peared.
''How did you get lighted up?" he
gasped, betraying that he had been
out on a chase.
Somebody found the button" replied
President Grant Bilbee.
well, I've been hunting that jan
stor for half an hour" said Graham,
Eeering around in front of the fan. Il
heard he was down at the Schlitz
Brewery company agency, and 1 gave
up them
After a vain attempt to light the
stairs for other struggling members
who might come in, President Bilbee
decided that the meeting had better
proceed.
The topic of dirt road building with
crude oil being a particularly live one
just now, Judge w. F. Rightmire,
counsel for the Uncle Sam Oil COM
pany, was called upon to make talk.
Judge Rightmire devoted a great
amount of the time allotted him in
talking about the oil fields of Kansas,
and Oklahoma, and said good deal
concerning its different ingredients
His point was to show that there was
plenty of oil to use for for road build
ing and that its use would not be a
waste.
The plan of oil road building Is to
sprinkle the crude product on a layer
of sand over a dirt road. When the
oil sinks in and dries it forms a sort
of aSphaltum. eff you will use this
Judge Rightmire, "and sprinkle it on
thick twice or three times, you will
then have as good asphalt as you will
ind on Kansas avenue"
But the idea of building oil roads has
some unusual drawbacks in Kansas The
fact that Kansas oil contains but about 5
per cent of asphaltum makes a good
many good road enthusiasts shy at the
plan of using it. They think that too
much would have to be used to make
the expense bearable. But Judge Right
Enire indicated the plan of his company
20 extract many of the other things
from the crude oil and leave little more
than the asphaltum. Just at present
the Good Roads association has no in
fention of testing the plan.
The convention will not take up any
scheme OF running a Good Roads train
through Kansas this year. Neither will
any tests or experiments be indulged in.
~No," said President BiIbee, 1--WE are
simply urging all the delegates who
courage people to spend the bulk of
their Improvement fund or permanent
roads That is what we want. Per
manent roads can be built, and in the
end they prove a saving of money"
r. T. Benedict, of Fort Scott, spoke
last night on Improved Dust Roads.
In particular he appealed to the mem
bers to keep the weeds down.
Professor Erasmus HaWorth, of Kan
Eas university, who was to have been
the stellar attraction at last nights
meeting did not appear. H. w. McAfee
and DR.. J. c. McClintock of Topeka
scheduled for papers.
Charles Miller President.
Charles F. Miller of Fort Scott was
this morning elected president of the
Kansas Good Roads association to sue
coed Grant Bilbee of lola, l. D. Graham
of Topeka was elected secretary for the
third successive time.
The following district vice presidents
were chosen:
First district-H. W. McAfee, Topeka
Second district. G. -Woodin, lola
Third district-E. r. Schermerhorn,
Pittsburg.
Fourth district-w. S. Williamson.
Emporia-
Fifth district-Alfred Docking, Man
haitian.
Sixth district-G. R. Wolf. Ellsworth.
Seventh district-O. Kennison, Garden
City.
Eighth district-H. J. Harding, Wich-
tia
Mr.. Miller, the new president, is the
secretary of the Southwestern Good
Roads association. He is not at the
present convention, being detained be-
cause of illness in his family. After the
report of the nominating committee was
adopted. President Bilbee arose and
said:
Mr.. Miller could not be with us, be-
ing unavoidably detained. But he will
make you a magnificent presiding Off
Ger He is interested in good roads,
90 -ff