Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-06-07
NATIONAL ROAD BODY
Consolidation Of All Highway In.
terests Suggested.
HOW SCHEME WOULD HELP.
Alfred Reeves Thinks More Effective
Work In Securing Improved Roads
Could Be Accomplished by One Big
Body Than by Many Small Ones.

Body Than by Many Small Ones.
Alfred Reeves, general manager Of
the American Motor Car Manufactur-
ers' association, advanced the sugges-
tion recently that all of the good roads
or highway committees Of the different
sport and trade automoblling organiza-
tions be consolidated, says the New
York Sun. lie thinks that II all the
various committees be brought togeth.
er In one big committee the work Of
rouslng good roads sentiment in the
United States would make muSh faster
progress than is possible under exist
Ing conditions, when Of necessity so
much ground is covered by several
committees. Not only does he think
such a body could and would command
more attention at Washington from
congress than would be possible for
any of the present committees, but 1t
is his firm belief that such a plan
would prove more economical and far
more effective than any other.
He points out that there are six mo-
toring organizations alone which have
committees working for good roads,
these bodies being called good roads
committees in some cases and highway
committees in others, but In all cases
their purpose is the increase in the
number Of miles Of improved highways
In the United States.
While these committees have done
good work and can keep on doing II,
Mr.. Reeves thinks that more could be
accomplished II they were consolidat-
ed. as expenses would be reduced. and
II cannot be disputed that a delegation
could do more effective work in secur-
ing favorable legislation at Washing
ton. for instance, than could be done
by delegations from each OF the six
bodies.
A consolidation would also be advis-
able, because an executive board OF
half dozen members could be readily
selected made up Of men thoroughly
posted on the subject who had gained
their knowledge after years OF expert
ence. BY following out this plan II
would be a far simpler matter TO Sc
cure men able to give some OF their
time to the work than II is to pick out
such committee from any one OF the
organizations named. Under present
conditions such committees are fire.
quently composed OF men living In
widely separated parts OF the country
who OF course are unable To hold fire.
quent enough meetings TO properly
handle the work they are trying TO do.
II is not Mr.. Reeves idea that only
the six motoring organizations named
should combine forces but that all ma
tional organizations OF road users
should be included. lie would include
the big associations OF farmers in diff
ferent parts Of the country and also
the good roads workers who recently
had convention at Oklahoma, as well
as any other big organization which
has appointed a committee TO advance
the cause OF improved highways. He
thinks It very necessary point for
the fullest success OF such plan that
the farmers be invited to participate.
as their influence would count so heay-
lily In the matter OF securing favorable
legislation. both national and state.
As an evidence of what may be &C
complished by consolidation. even on
small scale. Mr Reeves cites the case
Of the Highway Improvement associa-
ton. which was formed in New York a
few years ago.
II was made up OF the Road Drivers
association the Associated Cycling
Clubs of New York. the Truck own
ers' association and the Automobile
Club OF America. There was one dele
gate from each organization. and they
were able 20 do a great deal Of eTec-
tive work
They secured the laying ot asphalt
strips along many poorly paved or
rough streets and put an end TO the
unnecessarily lavish sprinkling OF
streets. in addition 10 doing great deal
of other good work. Mr.. Reeves thinks
that this same idea could he followed
out In national nosd affairs with GORE
spondingly greater results