The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-11-14

confess that they are Few. but, re-
mcmbcring that one Of the aims and
purposes of the organization was the
education of the people in matters of
highway Improvement, we are led to
believe that in this at least some sue
cess has been attained. And this is
in large measure due to the fact that
the association has in its work re-
ceivcd the cordial and unqualified sup
port Of the entire press of the state of
Washington. / do not believe that
there is one paper published in the
state that does not stand for highway
Improvement. People may differ as to
methods to be cmpoycd. but the end
sought is desired by all.
OF the five annual meetings held
three have been held in eastern Wash
ington. The passage of the present
convict labor law, the passage of the
law levying poll tax on non-residents.
and the passage of the law which
gives us the present highway commits
sioner can be attributed in no small
degree to the efforts of your associa-
ton. The fact that the principal is
sue raised in King county this year
was to determine the attitude of the
candidates to the office of county COM
missioner 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 legislatures forces in his
county this year is primarily due to
the fact that he gave Whatcom county
her present system of highways while
serving her rs county commissioners.
During this convention you will be
favored with interesting papers on
the subject of needed legislation, on
the subject of employment of convict
labor, on the subject of the building
materials of the state, on the subject
of the Encouragement of the manner in
which taxes raised in the several COM
munities shall be expended, and with
out anticipating what may be said by
the distinguished gentlemen who are
to present these papers. | wish to say
that my own observation has led me to
believe that the office of highway COM
missioner of this state should be es-
tablished on a firm basis, his powers
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 prepara-
ton of material and in the construc-
ton of highways; that a poll tax, rea-
sonable in amount, should be paid by
every voter in the state, whether Ne
live in the city or in the country; that
taxes of the present generation should
not be increased to provide means of
highway transportation for the future,
but that through an issue of bonds or
otherwise. following the lead of states
like Mex York, New Jersey Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut, provision
should be made for the building of
permanent highways; that standing
committee should be appointed by this
association to cooperate in an adj
visory capacity with the officials in
every county of the state having
charge of the expenditure of road
funds and that such committee should
seek by means of Standardization OF
accounts, methods of expenditure ana
use of material to get the best results
for the taxpayer; that proper laws
should he passed for the regulation of
motor vehicles in this state, and that
a special tax should be imposed on
them to compensate for the a'dition1l
wear which they cause to the roads
that the right to life and property be
safeguarded by placing retrictions up
on persons who operate motor vehicles
on the highways of the state. The abb
surdity of requiring that an engineer
on the private right of-way of a rail-
road should come up to certain
standard before he is allowed to ham
die an engine and of allowing an I'M
mature, unexamined and unskilled
person to operate an engine on
crowded public thoroughfare must be
apparent to all.
But I have spoken too long, and yet
not too long if what have said shall
through your deliberations and
through your action ripen into laws.
In conclusion l would say that sue
cess does not lie just ahead of us. but
it does lie ahead of US If this body of
men who are here today will conse-
crate themselves to the cause of good
roads. which is the cause of human
ity in a broad sense, results Will be
accomplished, victories will be won by
the advocates OF SOOu roduS NHiSH Will
be more lasting, more permanent ana
more beneficial to the state and to the
nation than any they have yet
achieved.
After the registration and organiza-
ton the convention adjourned for a
ride through the valley, until 2 p.
m.
AS soon as the party returned from
their drive the afternoon session was
called to order. Prof. Lands, state
geologist. spoke fully on the ma
terials for road construction in
Washington. He said that the basalt
rock so abundant in this state. was
the best stone to be used for this work.
Samuel Lancaster then delivered
convincing address on the manner OF
constructing roads that will wear and
at the same time be economical
enough to be within the reach of all
parts of the country. He said in part:
There are two places that are i'm
portant in the road; you must have
water tight roof and a firm founda-
ton. The foundation must be care
fully constructed and packed. filling
all depressions with stone and rolling