The Elbert County tribune., 1906-11-08
FOR GOOD ROADS
ASSOCIATION WILL ASK FOR A
MILLION DOLLARS
SPEECH OF THOMAS F.wALsH
State Good Roads Convention VIII
Be Held at Denver-county Com
missioners, Surveyors and Mayors

| 1875 members of the chamber of COM
merce, the real estate exchange, the
State Good Roads Association, the Gen
tlemen's Riding and Driving Club and
the Denver Automobile Club. assem-
bled at a smoker in the Chamber of
Commerce building Thursday night, it
was decided to call good roads CON
vention in this city Immediately after
the election.
The great benefits to the city and
state of such a gathering, 1t Is impos-
sible to estimate at the present time.
The scope of the plans which the pro-
moters of the good roads movement
have in mind is so far reaching, and
comprehends the building of such an
elaborate system of permanently ex-
cellent thoroughfares in all parts of
the state that the consequent reduc-
ton in the cost of transporting agricul-
tural products, and the increased
amount of tourist travel will have an
effect on the prosperity of the state
which is incalculable.
In order to insure immediate action
in the matter of issuing the call to the
convention and carrying 1t to COM
pletion, Thomas f. Walsh subscribed
$500 toward a fund for that purpose,
and this will be the nucleus for similar
contributions by the various organiza-
tions interested in the good roads
movement.
A large number of representative
citizens attended the smoker. which
was presided over by A. j. Spengel,
president of the chamber OF commerce.
After a few Introductory remarks, Mr..
Spengel introduced Mr.. Walsh, the
principal speaker of the evening, and
the strongest advocate of better roads
in Colorado.
In opening his address Mr. Walsh
expressed his gratificationl at being
asked to address such representative
body, stating that in doing SO he felt
that he was in measure addressing
all the citizens of Colorado. He made
an emphatic statement of the impor-
tance of good roads as necessary ad-
junct to civilization.
Mr.. Walsh told of a conference with
John Brisben Walker and others, at
which the following. agreement was
framed:
THE undersigned agree to become
members of the Colorado State Good
Roads Association, and to appear be-
fore the Legislature of Colorado at
least twice during the approaching ses
sion to urge an appropriation Of ST.,
100000 for state roads; this appropria-
tion to be divided among those coun-
ties which shall apply for the same,
agreeing to expend an amount equal
to the sum allowed by the state; all
roads to be approved by the state en-
gineer."
He then went on to say: Il realize
that to accomplish lasting results we
CT fnr ftx nd
place it under the supervision and con-
troll of the state. Voluntary subscrip-
tions expended under present condi-
tions will accomplish only temporary
good; spasmodic efforts will have like
results. All associations, as we'll as in
dividuals, who are in favor of this
work, can assist materially by exert
ing their influence towards procuring
the necessary legislation, but we must
first plan the work upon solid foun-
dation, as other states have done. We
must have State Bureau of Roads
created, presided over by the ablest
road engineer that can be secured, one
who is fully acquainted with all the
details and science of road building,
for 1t is science. and the construction
and maintenance of all the roads in the
state should be under his supervision
and control and he should have as
many assistants as the work may re-
quire. The state should cooperate
with the counties.
''It should make the necessary ap-
preparations to pay at least one-third
of the expense to the different coun-
ties for the work that would improve
their roads and keep them up to the
required standard. The detail of all
this work is a matter of consideration
in which the laws of other states will
be guide and an assistance: but state
supervision and control insofar as it
can be exercised is a vital necessity to
the perpetuation of good roads. To
get the combined knowledge, expert
ence and cooperation of the county Of
ficials of the state, convention should
be held here some time before the Leg
isIature meets, to which all the county
commissioners, surveyors, mayors OF
cities and towns should be invited.
Two or three road engineers from
other states could also be invited, say
week before the convention was
held. when they could examine our
roads and look into local conditions,
SO as to be able to give expert advice
on these matters at the convention
Such a body could lay out a plan of
roads to work up, could give valu-
able information relating to routes,
etc, could frame a bill creating the
new department, for presentation to
the Legislature, and in a general way
lay out plans for future work that
would command the attention of the
Legislature.
THE Legislature at its next session
should appropriate 100000 or s150,000
and provide for the submission to the
voters at the next general election of
a bill authorizing the issuance of
bonds to meet future expenditures As
the result of such a bill in New York
the good people of that state recently
voted for an appropriation of $50,OO0,-
600 for that purpose. We should place
this road bureau ON as high q nlana as