Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-28
SAMUEL HILL ON GOOD ROADS
President of Good Roads Association Makes
Address at North Yakima.

convened at North Yakima last week,
had good attendance of representa-
tive men from all parts of the state.
In his annual address to the association
President Samuel Hill said, in part:
'The Washington Good Roads asso-
citation makes its appeal to the farmers
of the state and tries to show that its
work, while preliminary for the farmer
for the man who lives on the land is
nevertheless for the benefit of every
man, woman and child within the
borders of our state. New York had
tried in vain for the Improvement of
it's highways, depending as it did on
the false hope that the cities of that
state could, through their representa-
tives, remedy the evil then existing,
but when the organization of the farm
ing population of New York was eff
fected through the efforts of a devoted
and patriotic band of men, Legislation
was enacted which increased the sum
expended on highways from $50, 900
appropriation in 1895 to a $50, 600. 600
appropriation in 1905
eff we can once convince the people
of the State of Washington that we
have their best interests at heart, that
this association has no selfish ends to
further, then our task will be done.
Il hope that this will not be the
case, but if the original trade of
Puget sound should pass into foreign
hands, and the traffic with Alaska
should cease to be carried on from
Washington ports, there is a wealth
and fertility in the soil of the state
which, if properly developed and the
state be properly supplied with means
of highway transportation, will yet
suffice for the maintenance and support
of millions of people.
when we were asked to point to the
results accomplished by this organiza-
ton we We're obliged to confess that
they were few. But, remembering that
one of the aims and purposes of the
organization was the education of the
people in matters of highway improve
ment, we are led to believe that in
this at least some success has been
attained. And this is in a large measure
due to the fact that the association
has in its work received the cordial and
unqualified support of the entire press
of the State of Washington. do not
believe that there is one paper pub
lished in the state that does not stand
for highway improvement. People may
differ as to methods to be employed,
but the end sought is desired by all.
''The passage of the present convict
labor law, the passage Of the law levy
ing poll tax on non-residents, and the
passage of the law which gives us the
present highway commissioner, can be
attributed in no small degree to the
efforts of your association. The fact
that the principal issue raised in King
county this year was to determine the
dttIlutlt vi w lit OliltV vi
county commissioner with regard to
good roads, is due to the efforts of the
King County Good Roads association.
"That the father of good roads in
Whatcom county has been selected to
lead the legislative forces of his county
this year is primarily due to the fact
that he gave Whatcom county her
present system of highways while serv-
ing her as county commissioner.
"My observation has led me to be-
lieve that the Office of highway com
missioner of this state should be es-
tablished on firm basis, his power
enlarged and his duties increased; that
the convicts of the state should be dis
tributed in the different portions of the
state and employed in the preparation
of material and in the construction OF
highways; that poll tax reasonable ii
amount should be paid by every votel
in the state whether he live in the city
or in the country; rha. taxes of the
present generation should not be in
creased to provide means of highway
transportation for the future, but that
through an issue of bonds or otherwise,
following the lead of states like New
York, New Jersey, Massachusetts ano
Connecticut, provision should be made
for the building Of permanent high
ways; that standing committee SHOULD
/ be appointed by this association to co
operate in an advisory capacity with
the officials in every county of the
state having charge Of the expenditur,
of road funds, and that such committee
should seek by means of standardization
of accounts, methods of expenditure ant
use of material, to get the best result!
for the taxpayer.
81 believe, too, that proper law!
should be passed for the regulation o.
motor vehicles in this state, and that ;
special tax should be imposed on then
to compensate for the additional wea
which they cause to the roads; that th'
right to life and property be safe
guarded by placing restrictions upoI
persons who operate motor vehicles oil
the highways of the state.
"The absurdity of requiring that al
engineer on the private right Of way o
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