Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-03-24

(Oontiausd from First Paqe.)
Mr.. Newell favored roadmaster
and skilled foremen. Before a road Is
improved he would have II re located,
If need be, and put 1t upon tIie best
grade possible. Then begin on the
worst sections first. but doing tho
most work on the market end Of the
road. The roadway should never be
less than 60 feet to allow ample space
for the grade and for drainage pur-
poses. On grade 40 feet wide the
center should be about 30 TO % inches
above tho curb. To firmly pack
the roadbed was all essential and the
roller should be of at least 10 tons
weight. He would prohibit narrow
tires on heavy wagons. Mr.. Newell
strongly advocated the employment of
convicts on road work and he thought
oiled roads would prove a SUCCESS in
Oregon and favored the making in
different countries experimental sec
tions of this kind Of road. He closed
his address, which was replete with
sound opinions on good roads with the
recommendation that the Oregon Good
Roads Association appoint special
committee to 90 over the Oregon road
laws and recommend to the next legis-
lature such changes as would tend to
their betterment.
r. L. Coe, leading merchant Of
Grants Pass, was then called on and
he made short address that was ex-
ceedingly practical in the ideas sng-
gestcd. He thought good roads would
do more for the development and pro.
sperity Of Josephine county than any
other one investment. He had been
in many states and knew Of no section
having so many natural advantages
fol good roads Favored putting
roads on best routes TO avoid heavy
grades; building only so much each
year as could be done thoroughly. He
would have a skilled road master, a
regular road crew employed and a
complete road equipment of the best
machinery to be had. Favored maca-
dam, but would like for the county
to give crude petroleum a trial.
The program for the afternoon
closed with short talk by Judge
Scott IN which he said that it was
"A waste of money to undertake road
work without the machines used in
building modern roads, which were
u crusher, steam roller, grave
screen, and graders, all to be Of the
best make, the cheap machines but
the more expensive in the end.
The Monday evening session was
called to- order by the chairman,
Judge Scott, after which the Grants
Pass Mems Quartette gave a selection,
to which the encore was so hearty
that they responded with a second Sc
lection.
The discussion for the evening was
opened by Ex-Governor 7. 4. Geer,
of Salem, and his address was a
concise statement Of the needs and
benefits of good roads for Oregon.
That Josephine county had bad
roads he had recollection all too
vividly and painfully gained while
travelling over the county making ad,
dresses, during the Mckinley cam
paign, aud no also gained the know
ledge on that trip that Josephin,
county was one of the richest counties
of Oregon in natural resources Ant
Fhe further found that these varied ant
productive resources were but little
developed aud would continue sc
until the prohibitive charges of trans
portation was removed by good roads,
roads that would bo as passable foI
heavy freight teams In tho winter as
in the smumer The development OF
the traction enigne and the auton o.
bile is being accomplished so rapidly
that by the time Josephine county has
suitable roads for their use, thi,
means Of handling freight and passon
ger Traffic would then be- largely EN-.
ployod aud would still further lessen
transportation charges,
These road conventions. Governor
Gecr held, would causo people to dis.
ouss the road problom, aud to agitate
Is to educate aud with the knowledge
of the proftablonoss Of good roads,
these advances agents of modern
civilization, will gridron Southern
Oregon as they now cover the more
highly developed SECTIONS OF the
United States. The Governor favored
national and stPto aid in road build.
ing, but states aud counties not to be-
ontitlod to this aid until they
meet IL with certain per cent of
road expenditures Governor Gccr
closed his address with comparison