The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-11-24
THEIR CONVENTION.
Good Roads men-Governor Chamber
1ain's Address-Convict Labor.

1ain's Address-Convict Labor.
At eleven o clock this morning
the fourth annual convention of the
Oregon Good Roads Association
came to an end, after a series of
most profitable and interesting
sessions. During the convention
a vast fund of information vas af-
forded on the subject Of public
highways, and a great interest was
aroused in the topic by those. for
tunate enough to be in constant or
even in part attendance. The only
regrettable feature is that all of the
people of Benton county, or OF the
whole state for that matter, could
not have been assembled under the
sound of the voices of the various
speakers, to, have caught the en-
thusiasm everywhere and by every
body manifested. Speakers from
various parts of the seate were pres
ent, notably county Judges, county
commissioners, and others, primar-
lily interested in. road building, and
the best information on the subject
in hand, was constantly pouring
forth. Governor Chamberlain,
Ex-Governor Geer, Col, Tom Rich:
ardson, manager of. the Portland
Commercial Club, and other prom
inent men were among those, who
took an active part in the proceed.
ings.
The opening session was We'd
nesday afternoon. The program
occupied a cpuple of hours, much
of the time being devoted to the
asking and answering of questions
and to discussion inshort, impromp-
tn speeches Of various phases of
the subject of roads. The princi-
pal address was by Col. Tom Rich
ardson, which is to BIS found in full
in another column. III
Governor Chamberlain was a
speaker at the evening session of
Wednesday. The general subject
of good roads was his topic, and he
dealt with it in the intelligent and
candid manner habitual to His .Ex-
cellency. He declared a belief that
the state should assist in road build
ing out of a fnnd to be. derived by
taxation. The road between Cor
wallis and Philomath, he said, is
one that not only the Immediate
community but in which all the
people of the state are indirectly
interested. If the people along the
road propose its betterment and ap-
propriate from their means for such
betterment, then it. ought to be ar.
ranged that the state could pro.
portionately contribute, manifesting
a willingness to help these commun-
tiles willing to help themselves. In
the same way it seems that congress
should bear a part of the expense
of improving highways. Appro-
priations r made by congress in
big grants of1and for aid Of RAILROADS
If there is the authority for the one
there must be equal authority and
better reason for the other. A
growing sentiment in favor of con-
gressional aid, Governor Chamber
lain remarked, seemed to. be devel-
oping, and he predicted that extern
sive aid along those lines would yet
be forthcoming.
Pursuing the topic, Governo,
Chamberlain pointed out how some
of the Southern states, notably
North Carolina and Georgia. had
made great strides in road better
ment during the past few years.
and how convict labor had beer
largely utilized for that purpose
and in a very satisfactory way. II
closing his address the governor
remarked that, "tall roads led te
Rome, and Rome ruled the world
The roads of that aneient time still
survive and bear testimony Of tn
magnificent forethought the Ro
mans betrayed in compelling all til
world to trade with Rome by offer
ing turnpikes over which loads G
enormous weight could be draw;
with ease. For the sake of til
rural communities, Of the farmer
and farm homes, where at be:
there is more than a deserved mea:
ure of toll and travail IN compa1
ison with some Of the other calling
Governor Chamberlain urged all /
become enlisted in the good roae
movement, adding in conclusio
that when he came to Corval1
again he hoped it would be ov'
roads the best in the woodland wit
the people blessed under tie brigh
est conditions an everything Pro
ideDce had to give.