New-York tribune., 1909-09-12
GOOD ROADS THE CRY
FARMERS SHOIY INTEREST
vii Join 1cith AutomobiIists to Push
the WOrE.

Significant feature Of tho coming second an
nual national good roads convention To be held
in Cleveland ON September Il . and q Is the keen
interest being shown in the objects for which the
convention IS hell by members or the Nationst
Grange. Some of itS most prominent officers viii
be among the speakers. and they viii discuss a
number Of the most important phases Of the good
roads movement in America
Ex-Governor y. j. Bachelor Of New Hampshirs
and the present master OF the National Grange
viii be one OF the principal speakers ON the opening
day his subject being ''Tie National Grange and
Good Roads lie viii be followed by George 5. .
I'add. who will speak on THE New England Plan
Tor Connecting Links Of Trunk Highways" on
the following day T. g. Laylin. master of the ONO
State Grange, viii speak The Farmers Inter-
est IN Road Improvement.1 and F. y Godfrey.
master OF the New York State Grange viii tell OF
ths work being done by the New York Grange
members and the good roads legislation IN the
state
The National Grange. In conformity with tho
resolution adopted its annual meeting a year
ago. to the effect that the grange favors the gem
eral policy or good roads construction by the
various municipalities counties and states. and
that 1t also advocates the enactment Of legislation
by Congress making federal appropriation for th9
Improvement of highways. is Lending its enthusiast
TIC support to the bill recently introduced in Com
gress by Frank D. Currier, OF New Hampshire
providing for the creation OF a national highway.
commission. The bill has been indorsed By tbs,
various state oranges throughout the eOuntys
showing clearly the increasing interest OF the farm
ers in good roads and the realization OF their benz
shts
The farmers recognize the need for better roads,
and realize how largely such roads would conributs
to their comfort and prosperity" said 1Ir BachsI
der in recent address. They are anxious that.
well considered plans for road Improvement should.
be submitted the state and national legislatures
and will do all IN their power aid In securing ths
adoption OF such plans. They have made uT, their
minds that Congress must devote a share OF this
annual appropriations 20 the construction and mai
tenance of roads. National aid will not Isssers
local road activity On the contrary the roads con-
structed with federal assistance viii serve % sts
ulate everywhere the desire for better roads. ana
will he the means ultimately of giving the entfrai
country uniform system OF scientifically con-s
| structed public highways"
The order OF the Grange. or Patrons of Has
bandry. founded forty-twO years ago and now
has affiliated branches tWenty-sight states vvffh
total membership Of one million persons Thai
unit OF the order IS the local grange composed of
, the farmers OF one community. The National
Grange is the national organization. composed oE
the masters of the state oranges each having
equal representation. The farmers OF the country
we're virtually the first real road makers. and IN
many localities the work OF maintaining the roads
is still in their hands
One of the big features in the grange movements
for good roads that IS assuming practical
form is the proposition for the construction By tha
New England States OF trunk lines OF highways
This subject recently presented before the New
England state Governors BY the State Highway
Commissioner Of Connecticut James H. Macdonald
and d result of the favorable action taken a a
that time plans under way to present thqs
matter in proper form before the legislatures OF th
different states.