The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-05-19
FOR BETTER ROADS
GOVERNOR URGES IMPORTANCE
OF HIGHWAY MAKING.
Proceedings Of Second Day at Good
Roads Convention at
Pendleton.

Tuesday, the second day of the Ore
gon Development league and good
roads meeting convened at 10 o'clock,
with Governor George E. Chamber
lain to address the meeting, after an
opening speech by Judge J. a. Scott
in the Commercial club parlors.
Governor Chamberlain spoke on the
necessity of a concentrated movement
to be made after agitation for good
roads in the state Of Oregon. He is of
the opinion that the United States
government would assist in a none
tary way in building such roads, as
taxes from indirect sources are the
easiest way to raise money for such
improvements. He cited where inn
mense land grants had been made to
The Dalles military road, the Cascade
and Southern Oregon militray roads
and said if such lands had been hus-
banded their worth today would have
builded highways across the state.
He passed on to the subject Of con-
vict labor and cited where five miles
of road had been laid in Marion coun-
ty with convict labor with an expen-
diture of $4,000 and an additional
maintenance of cents day to each
man over the usual cost Of support.
Following the governors speech was
short address by DR.. Withycomb of
Corvallis on the benefits of roads,
with short discussion by q. w.
Proebstel of Weston.
A. Bennett of Irrigon, vice presi-
dent of the Development league,
closed the league session. Judge Scott
presided the remainder of the day.
The feature of the meeting was an
address by Col. r. w. Richardson of
st. Louis, secretary Of the National
Good Roads association, who spoke an
hour on practical road building in the
United States.
The afternoon session was opened by
A. Bennett on "Oregon's Needs in
Roads" who cited the almost entire
absence of roads in many parts OF the
state.
DR.. Withycomb again spoke, his
theme being "a good dirt road and
how to make it. Dr. Withycomb
has had much experience in road max
ing and farming and gave much in
formation on this subject. He especi-
ally asked county judges to enforce the
present road laws. Turner Oliver OF
La Gfande led the disussion on this
subject.
In place Of James B. Meikle of
Seattle, who was to have spoken, L.
q. HALEY of Pendleton delivered an
excellent addresson "The Business
Phase Of Good Roads.
Mr.. HALEY produced figures which
showed that the cost Of transporting a
wheat crop from the fields to railroads
was greater per mile by far than what
the railroads charge for transporta-
tion. His figures indicated that the
cost on wagon roads was cent mile
sack, while railroad charges are but
one half.
Resolutions asking that county
courts make provisions for permanent
roads, employ convict labor aud en-
ploy competent engineers; endorsing
the present road law; urging news
papers to publish extracts of road laws
of most Importance; indorsing the
appointment of state engineer to bt
appointed and provided for by the
next Legislature, and for national
county, state and city governments K
aaaiat IN road huildinp yvarA passed
unanimously.
Turner Oliver of La Grande extend
cd an invitation for the next meeting
of both associations at La Grande
The meeting closed with an addres
by Thomas Ryan, Judge of Clackama
county, on Cooperation in Roa'
Building, and few closing remark
by Judge Scott.
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