The Opelousas courier., 1905-03-25

oASi SSSSS S"SIi ~
convention seldom adjourns without
forming a permanent organization.
Mainly in this way good roads asso-
Citations have been formed in all Sec
tons, and by them the work of edu-
cation and agitation has been carried
OH.
At a great National convention for
consideration of the road improvement
question, held in Chicago, in Noyem-
Der. 1900, the National Good Roads AS
ISOLATION was organized, and it has
since grown until, with its affiliated
State, district and local associations.
it is without doubt the greatest o.
ganization of the kind in existence.
But it is not the only National organ
ization of this kind. The American
Roadmakers, Of which the Hon. James
FL. Macdonald, of Connecticut, is Presi-
dent, is organized in nearly every Sec
tion Of the United States, and its re-
cent annual convention at Hartford,
Conn, was attended by several hun
dred delegates.
In 1901, an International congress Of
persons interested in road improve
lnent was held at Buffalo, in connec-
fion with the Pan-American Exposi-
tios1. All sections Of the United States
md several foreign countries were rep
resented.
1t would be impossible in this brief
review of the good roads movement
. even mention the many important
conventions which have been held
since the great Chicago meeting OF
1892. But no history Of the movement
would be complete without some ac-
count Of the National convention held
at st. Louis at the time the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition was dedicated.
In the number of leading public men
who attended and participated, this
gathering far exceeded any of its
predecessors. Addresses were deliv-
cred by President Roosevelt, Hon. A.
G. Latimer, Colonel William J.. Bryan,
General Miles and By several Con-
gressmen and Governors of States, as
well as many other men of National
prominence.
National Aid Movement Launched
The most significant feature of the
st. Louis meeting was the launching
Of the National aid plan. Colonel W.
4. BrownloMs OF Tennessee, had given
this plan brominence before the coun-
try by Introducing a bill in the Fifty
seventh Congress providing. that the
Government should cooperate with the
| States iii the improvement of the roads,
and pay one-half Of the expense.
From tIe first this proposition at
tracted much favorable attention, es-
necially among the rural population.
But the idea was fairly launched OF
Its National career by the convention
at ST. Louis. It was, in fact, the prin-
cipal theme of discussion and the SEN
itment for it was well-nigh unali-
nous.
Good Roads in Congress.-The st.
Louis convention created a committee
representing ali sections Of the country
to go to Washington, lay its demands
before Congress, and argue in favor
of the Nations help in the Work OF
improving the roads. Last January the
Committee on Agriculture in both the
| Senate and House granted public hear
ings to this committee; and the Sen.
ate has since issued a report OF the
hearing for distribution to the people.
On the whole it must be said that the
advocates Of National aid made out q
streng case, and the report contains
n large amount of valuable informa'
ton.
The Senate committee has since de.
cided by a vote of six to one to make
a favorable report on the Latimer OH,
with some amendments, and this re
port will so before the Senate for
action at the next session.
That public sentiment is generally
favorable to the National aid PROPOSE
lion is shown by the fact that it has
been endorsed by the Legislatures OF
six States, by the National Grange, the
Trans-Mississippi Commercial Con
gress, the American Mining Congress,
and BY state and local, conventions and
organizations of many kinds in all
parts of the country.
state Aid.-No history OF this move.
ment would be complete without some
reference to the State aid plan. In
fact the greatest actual accomplish
ment Of the movement is that it has
secured the adoption Of this plan IL
ten States. The essential features OF
this plan are the creation Of a State
1 Highway Commission, and the cooper
alton of the State with the counties
and towns in the work of road I'M
proyement, each bearing a fixed portion
Of the expense, though, no two States
have adopted exactly the same plan
All the northeastern States from Maine
to Pennsylvania and Maryland have
adonted State aid, and the results Sc
cured are so satisfactory that the popu
larity of the plan increases every year
In New Jersey the State pays ~
third of the cost of road improvement
and the Legislature now appropr1ates
s250.O00 annually. In Connecticut fht
state pays two-thirds OF the expenses
ana the annual appropriations arg
"a 600. Massachusetts spends nearly
half d million a year, the State pay
ing three-fourths of the cost. IN e
York The State pays one-half the cost
md the last Legislature made an ap
nronriation of 100000 for this pur
al 1900 B@@@&a@N3%EM M&H i Vie n ~ -