The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-11-18
GOOD ROADS" TALK
WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION HOLDS
MEETING At WAILA WAIIA.
keSos0tsonS Favor . Law PROVIDING
Tor the Use OF Ionvlct Labor
on the public Hlahways-Old
Officers OF the Association Are
Reelected.

Ofncers OF the Association Are
Reelected.
| Walla Walla, Nov. 1.-THE Wash.
ingeon Good Roads Association ID
starting on another campaign for good
roads throughout the state Of Washing.
son with renewed vigor and enthusi.
asm, and with the hope that when an.
osner year has rolled around the move.
ment WILL be 30 impressed upon the
minds Of the entire population Of the
ssase that good roads will be demanded
everywhere.
Resolutions were adopted providing
Tor the appointment Of an organiser "a
FORM road association in each county
OF the state. Another asked the vari-
Gus boards Of county commissioners,
city councils, chambers of commerce
and commercial clubs to contribute
according to their population to make
up q fand Of 81, 900 to pay the salary
and expenses Of the organizer.
A resolution was also adopted pro.
vlding for the appointments Of q COM
mittee Of five on legislation. The COM
mittee Is to draft and secure the intro.
duction at the next Legislature Of all
necessary road measures. This is spec
lied to include bill for the employ
ment of convict labor not otherwise re-
quired to operate the jute mill and
such other industries az may be re-
quired to properly maintain the peni-
Tertiary, on the public highways of the
state; also bill defining the duties of
the state highway commission, and
such other legislation as the Good
Roads Association may consider advis-
able.
Constitution and Officers.
The constitution of the association
was amended to provide that any per-
son could become member by paying
81 year in dues. and making state
ocmials, county commissioners and
surveyors ex-officio members. Tho con-
stitution also provides that Seattle
shall be the official headquarters of
the association.
The officers reelected were:
President, Samuel Hill, Seattle.
Vice president, John b. McGraw,
Seattle.
Secretary, James B. Meikle, Seattle.
Treasurer, N. B. Conan.
North Yakima was chosen as the
next meeting place.
At the opening session at the Walla
Walla club rooms President Samuel
Hill presided. A large number of del
egates from the counties in Western as
we'll as Eastern Washington were pres
emit.
Ex-Gov. Miles c. Moore delivered
the address of welcome, which was re-
sponded to by President Hill.
Advocates legislation.
Joseph M. Snow, state highway COM
missioner. then delivered an address
on the necessity Of legislation. He
spoke at length on the subject, and
said he believed that the Legislature
should appropriate money to be dis
tributed throughout the counties Of
tho state to assist In constructing and
maintaining good roads. he pointed
| out that while the last Legislature pro-
vided for the Office of highway COM
missioner, it neglected to enumerate
his duties. It was no new necessity
that this Office be put in good working
order, 30 that the commissioner could
cooperate with the different counties
in securing better highways.
John B. Catron spoke on "Convict
Labor on Roads," He gave much
data, showing how convicta were
successfully employed on roads in var
| ious states. he pointed out that BY
thus using prisoners they would be per-
forming labor that weuld not bring
them in competition with honest labor
and would bring about better condi-
ton Of roads, which would inure to
the benefit Of the public at large. He
said that the property owners through
ont the state are being taxed for the
maintenance of the oonvicts. and II
thew were allowed to work on roads
the cost Of keeping the prisoners would
mot be increased, but the common
| wealth would be receiving good re-
turns.
Proposes Commission.
Mr.. Catron suggested that the legis.
lature might provide commission OF
three or i've members 10 control CON
| Wet labor and cay where Il should be
r..d One member. he said, should
81 An experienced civil engineer. and
the olasc Of convicts 10 b employed at
nor labor should be laft 20 the man
aeement Of the prison.
i. b. Meikle, SECRETARY q the ESQ.
citation. spoke on the subject q ''tsooo
Roads ana Coed Business" Hs went
m he subject at great length. AND
demonslrsted that good roads ana 1000
businsDg 49, the two i4poFeans shases
that 80 70 bald up prosperous eon-
munitiee, citiss and towns.
M. Meikle said that the sease OF
~. hineeon spsns millions Of dollars IN
rc.a mskiue. bat owing % tho syssem