The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-08-13
ENTHUSIASTIC
FOR GOOD ROADS
CONVENTION DOES GOOD WORK
VIII Ask for New Good Roads Law
and Raise $4,000 to Start
Campaign--liOOd River Sends
Big Delegation.

tlon In Portland, Hood River was one
Of the best represented sections IN the
state, aud the interest shown by them
is expected to result In a movement
here for better roads. Delegates from
all sections we're unanimous in their
pledges to support general move
ment to secure better roads through.
out the state and to endeayor to SO
cure the passage of laws that will on
able it to get them.
The meeting was called to order
Tuesday morning by G. W. Hodson,
president of the Portland Commercial
Club, who spoke briefly.
The two great questions OF COM
merce, President Hodson said, we're
the problems OF productions and dis
tribution. The good roads question
had to do with the latter. The speak
er said thnt he hoped the result of the
conference which he was calling to
order would be legislation OF a char
acter to settle the good roads problem
for Oregon and put the state in the
front ranks of those states which we're
building good roads and highways.
Mr.. Hodson called attention to the
bill which was before the last session
of the legislature but which was vetoed
by the governor. He suggested that
the conference look into this bill and
it good we're found in 1t to work with
the legislature to pass it over the
veto. If the measure were lame in
some particulars these could be
amended and corrected after the bill
had been restored to life by the next
Legislature. This, fthe speaker said,
was offered as a suggestion.
Judge Webster had refused to pre-
side and so the subject was left open
to the meeting.
County Judge j. B. Messick, of Ba-
ker City, was elected permanent chair
man of the meeting after several other
men had been placed in nomination
and had withdrawn. A. A. Jayne, of
Hood River, Judge Uhrismsn, Judge
John II. Scott, all we're placed in
nomination, but stated that they did
not wish to be placed in the chair.
Accordingly, Judge Messck was elect.
ed permanent chairman by soclama-
tion.
Chairman Messick in his address OF
acceptance was short and to the point.
lie said that he had been interested
in good road work for two years in
Baker county, but that he did not
care to talk. lie wanted TO get to
work-and therefore asked the pleas
ure of the meeting
John Il. Albert, of Salem, answered
the call OF the chairman. lie said
that he was one of the veterans of the
good road movement lie oongratu-
lated Multnomah county on its awak-
ening In the good loads cause.
Following Mr.. Albert's address
John II. White was elected secretary
of the conference by acclamation.
Then j. D. Lee moved that commit
tee of five on legislation be appointed
bo the chair. This was amended by
W. X. Newell to read seven Instead of
FIVE, and was passed in that shape af-
ter some discussion. a. A. Jayne
wanted to have one member from each
county. Tom Richardson wanted to
have the different organizations and
businesses interested In good roads
represented. A. g. Staten said that
the farmers ought to have represen-
tation, as he did not believe that all
the good road knowledge was confined
to the craniums of the county judges
aud state senators of the state.
Tom Richardson was called upon
and told OF the objects of the meet
ing He said he believed that cam
paign should be started IN favor of
good roads. tie believed that there
should be road supervisor to oversee
the good road work of the state. He
said that he had asked Judge Webster
If be would preside at the conference,
and it he would take charge of a
movement to work for the spread of
the good roads idea throughout the
state. There was no deal and no
stacked cards in the matter at all
What was wanted was to get an organ
ization with definite policy 30 that
the hnanciers Of the state co1ld be ap.
pealed to for aid in the coed roads
movement.
Mr.. Richardson said that hs would
pledge that Multnomah county would
raise 50 per cent of any sum that
could be provided by the state for
good cad work, and that at the same
time the county would not want it
spent here because Multnomal coun-
ty did not need It.
Judge Webster was the next speaker.
He said be believed there should be a
state law which would sppI opriate
$4,000 OF each county of the state,
provided the county would appr opri-
ate like am cunt Tor the constr uction
ct good roads,
tie also wanted law which swould
p:o'iAc tor the local improvement OF
roads. He also believed in the enact
mfnt of convict labor bill, enabling
the counties to work their prisoners