The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-08-19
The Good Roads Contention Held
a Very Interesting Session Here
Today That Will be Beneficial
The Association Proposes TO
Hold Meetings and Con-
duct a Campaign For Con-
stitutional Amendment.

In the interest of teaching the
people the benefits of good roads
throughout the state, the Kentucky
Good Roads association met today in
the city hall. This morning a bust
ness session was held, while this af-
ternoon it was an open meeting, and
addresses were delivered on the
advantages of good roads and how
to build them, and especially the
necessity of the voters voting for the
amendment to the state constitu-
ton which enables the state to CO.
operate in road building. The
amendment has been indorsed by
both political parties, and at the
last legislature was passed by both
houses, and this fall will be voted
on. At present the limitations of the
constitution prohibit the statewide
road construction.
When the meeting was called to
order this morning by Senator Joe
F.. Bosworth, president of the asso-
citation, small attendance was pres
ent, but the meeting this afternoon
was better attended, as the automo-
bile owners broke away from bust
ness and attended while the farmers
were represented also. At the morn
ing session the plan of how to reach
the people was discussed. County
Judge r. T. Lightfoot advocated the
meetings of the association being
held in the country, a barbecue and
county fairs, so that the farmers
might hear the arguments, and every
member Endorsed the suggestion. A
majority of the meetings have been
held in the country. a barbecue and
discouraging part of the meetings is
the fact that II has been impossible
to get the farmers to attend. Judge
Lightfoot explained that the bad
conditions of the roads throughout
the state was due to the disadvan-
tages of the old system, and he
thought the best way was to go TO
the country people, and get them
interested in voting Tor the amend
ment so that the counties could bor-
row money and improve the roads.
Giving publicity to the cause was
discussed thoroughly by the mem
bers. The mailing of circular letters,
and the probability of getting each
county to send a delegate to the
state convention, which will be held
in Louisville September 16. Each
county in the state will be asked to
contribute as much as possible to
the good roads cause, and bear the
expenses of a delegate If possible.
Saunders A. Fowler called atten-
ton to the members OF the prizes
offered by magazines for the best
papers on road building, and he sug-
gested that the association could
gain much publicity by offering
prizes. Hon. II. C. Rankin came to
the front and offered 500 to be d.
vided into two prizes for the best
papers on how to build and maintain
good roads.
President Bosworth appointed VIII
II. Farley a member of the campaign
committee. Two weeks before the
next election the campaign commit
tee will make a swing over the en-
tire state, and conduct a campaign,
bringing before the people the nee
essity of voting for the amendment
just before the election. Also the
committee will request the railroads
TO make rates for the state conven-
ton in Louisville next month.
Two other meetings will be held
over the state in the interest of
awakening the people. Hopkinsville
has been selected, but the eastern
part of the state needs some atten-
ton, and It is probable that the
meetings will be held In both places.
The auto owners were interested
spectators this afternoon, and at
tended the addresses, which were fol-
lowed by five minute talks. After
the adjournment the Automobile
club will take the officers of the
association for a ride, and to let
them sample West Kentucky roads.
The delegation from Louisville
arrived early this morning, and the
party included: Senator Joe F. Bos-
worth, of Middlesboro, president; ].
V. Beckham, secretary-treasurer
Charles E. Barker, of Pembroke;
Hon. NJ. c. Rankin, commissioner of
agriculture, of Frankfort; Senator
George Wilhelm, of Newport.