The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-15

object the tetterment of humanity and
it stands not only for higher culture
but for every practical Improvement
that makes life more useful and more
enjoyable for this generation and for
those who are to come after us, and
while the women may not go out and
personally y ork on the roads they VIII
be a power in creating public sentf-
ment in regard to the need of better
highways" was the assertion of Mrs.
Spencer.
Practical Talk on Road Making.
State Engineer W. S. Gearheart
gave a practical talk on road making.
In coming in contact with the
are not SO Indifferent in regard to
better roads as has been generally
supposed. 1.-THE trouble is, however,
said Engineer Gearheart, "the farm
road work. Our present road system
does not encourage men to fit them
selves for intelligent road work
Nowadays when men do their road
work they go out with the intention
of having a good time and I know of
cases where the men have played
craps while supposed to be working
out their poll tax.
There should be rigid system of
overseeing the road work This
should be the duty of the county en-
gineer and to assist him he ought to
have two or three aides A county
engineer who would take up this work
could earn his yearly salary in three
months by conserving the money spent
on the roads and seeing that it really
goes into the roads. Taxpayers do
not get 81 worth of work for 81 in
money. Sometimes less than 40 per
cent gets into the road and this con-
dit on ought to be changed so that the
spent. To do this a business basis
should be adopted by which the re-
sponsibility is narrowed down to one
man"
address on road drainage was asked
to speak again today.
Good Roads in Oklahoma.
John Galoine of Guthrie, Okla. sent
"a paper on "Road Building Materials
in Oklahoma" In summing things up
he says;
"All things taken into consideration,
the generalized statement can be
made that Oklahoma contains a
larger per cent of road building ma
terial more widely distributed and
available for use than any other
about $50 known exposures of asphalt
in the state which contain only from
five to fifteen feet of bitumen.
Trap rock is found in the Wichita
and Arbuckle mountain regions. Flint
is found in many parts of the state,
chiefly in the northern and eastern
counties. Granite OCCURS in three
regions in Oklahoma. Limestone is
perhaps the most common road build
ing material, and gravel is found in
many portions of the state"
Llewellyn Jones of Independence,
Mo, gave some interesting facts in
connection with road making in his
town and county. claiming that with
the exception of st. Louis county, Mo-,
Jackson county is doing possibly more
work in good road building than any
county in the United States.
Engineers Hold Session
Last evening while the majority of
the delegates were being entertained
by the Modoc club in royal fashion,
the engineers of the state were hold
ing session in another portion of the
state house. There were nearly a
hundred engineers present at the
meeting in the supreme court rooms.
A constitution and bylaws were
architects. engineers and surveyors
were eligible to membership provid-
ing that they have had fine years of
practical experience in ; their par
tieular line OF work. It also provided
that an associate membership will be
granted to those who have had three
years of practical experience.
The annual meeting will be held in
Topeka. providing it is not considered
advisable at any time to hold the
engineers present hailed from all
portions of the state.
Liked Nfodoc Concert.
There were several hundred persons
present to enjoy the entertainment
given by the Modoc club-and they
did enjoy it too! Encores were given
repeatedly. Between the songs short
speeches were made. The following
were the selections rendered by the
Modocs: Greeting Song" america
Forever" when the Winds Ger the
Sea- Hail Us Ye Free Kentucky
Babe Soldiers FAREWELL" I'VE Are
a Band of Modocs," Carve Dat
Postum
Ex-Judge S. H Allen of Topeka
| gave a short talk on good roads Dur
| ing the course of his remarks he adj
vocated the adjustment of the navy.
He said: 1.-THE cost of one battleship
road from New York to San Fran
cisco. Just think of the immense
sums we are scuandering on our army
and navy"
A. H. Nottingham, an aged gentle
man of Lawrence, a little later arose
and said: 1.-THE discussion has all
been one sided. You can't get up an
argument without contention. The
battleships that have been built are a
| benefit to the country. 1t is their
presence that prevents and makes us
| prosperous" This he said with
vehemence stamping his feet on the
floor This called forth great ap-
plause on the part of the advocates of
a great navy.