Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-15
GOOD ROADS PARTY
ROYALTY WELCOMED
Big Convention is Held in After
noon at Which Rousing Speech
es Are Made in Advocacy CT
Better Highways.
By w. T. Waters, Jr.


New York Herald who attended the first
good roads rally in Barlow county. The
county is enthused by the widespread
movement for highway Improvement
which these two papers inaugurated sew
eEa weeks ago. The rally of Friday at
which the scout car carrying the staDd-
ard OF The Atlanta Journal aid the New
York Herald was this feature. was the
first demonstration of IFS awakened &C.
tivity. The rally marked the organization
OF all local advocacy IF roaa improves
n.cnt. 1t was the formal beginning OF
Barlow county'S participation in the gem
eral uprising against poor roads.
During Friday forenoon the good roads
advocates of the surrounding country
gathered for the convention of the after
noon. larry came The Atlanta Journals
White steamer scout car. bearing the
barriers and pennants of The Journal AMI
tie New York Herald. Numbers Of 9TH
er automobiles gathered during the morn
ing. some from Atlanta, and an advanced
car from Calhoun. Ga, through which
the good roads cavalcade was to pass
later on it's way to Dalton. The Cal
houn car brought Joseph B. Gordon and
E. L. jackson to extend the welcome OF
that town to the party of The Atlanta
Journal and the New York Herald.
BIG FEAST SERVED.
served by the progressive and hospita-
BILE citizens of Gainesville at the Park
hotel, Friday noon, to the assembled good
roads champions and supporters. Fifty
covers were laid, and a delicious repast
was served.
The Gainesville brass band, incidental
ly the best that the scut parties Of either
The Atlanta Journal or the New York
Herald have heard any where in 0leir
h. rnIa Wiz =
in the plaza I'm front of the hotel while
the noon banquet was being discussed
Professor ]. c. Berry, leader Of thu band
was cordially complimented by members
OF the scout party on the unusually ex-
cellent work of his organization.
After the feast the band led the way
to the courthouse, where the formal good
roads ceremony was held.
Mayor Joe NJ. Moon presided and With
ly introduced each of the speakers after
short speech of his own. stating the
objects OF the gathering.
Colonel ]. T. Van Orsdale, commands
ing the 18th United States infantry at
Fort Mcpherson, Atlanta, was the fiBst
speaker. Colonel Van Orsdale extolled the
good roads movement from the viewpoint
Of a military authority who looks for
moved readily and rapidly over the public
roads of the country.
Roby Robinson and Lauren Foreman.
both of the Atlanta Constitution. were
introduced in that order and spoke brif-
ly and to the point for good roads.
HAMILTON PETIT SPEAKS
Hamilton Peltz, the New York Herald's
representative, addressed the gathering
after he had been introduced by Mayor
Moon with some very iattering referen-
ces to the paper for which he stood.
~ Dali faA ~~af&
with credit as a speaker. extolling the
hospitality OF the south, marveling at its
wonderful enthusiasm in the good roads
movement and expressing the cordial in
terest of the Herald in the whole cam
paign.
Governor Smith entered just at the
conclusion of Mr. Peltz' remarks, and re-
ceived an ovation He was Immediately
called upon by Mayor Moon.
Good roads have become the biggest
question in Georgia" said the governor
Our people are not only talking about
them. They are seeing that actual work
is done to realize them Our counties I'M
der the new law are working convicts on
the public roads. And / believe that the
policy rs wise, to let those whose con.
viction of crime has cost the state some
thing, bring some return to the state af.
ter their conviction, by working the pub.
victs on the roads"
GOVERNOR THANKS JoURNAL-HER.
AID.
Governor Smith expressed his thank
in the name Of the state to the New
York Herald and The Atlanta Journal
and all the other papers that are help
ing, for the lively progress they are car.
rying the highway Improvement move.
ment through.
State School Commissioner Pound was
the next speaker. Following him, James
r. Gray, editor of The Atlanta Journal
was introduced by Mayor Moon as ian
old Barlow county boy, who don't need
an introduction here, though he may have
grown considerably since we saw him
last, and as an editor representing "a
newspaper that is a benediction to this
country"
Mr.. GRAY SPEAKS.
Mr.. Gray's address was in a more inti-
mate tone than that of his fellow speak
ers. He talked 70 his audience as 10 old
acquaintance, and told them straight
from the shoulder that their day Of awak-
ening had come, to the Importance of good
roads Mr.. Gray stressed the fact that
the highways that are projected are in
no sense automobile roads, but are for tho
use impartially of farmer and autoInobiI-
list alike.
The autOmODle Is Delng USED simply as
q powerful agent to assist the movement
for better highways" he said.
A. r. Warner, secretary Of the White
company, Of Cleveland, Ohio. introduced
as the next speaker, said, To-day ex-
perience one of the most pronounced de-
sires 1 have felt for some time past-to
attend and witness one of your Georgia
good roads meetings. " He emphasized,
from the standpoint of an automobile
expert, the need for roadway betternent.
JOHN L. LEES ADDRESS.
John L. Lee, state president Of the Far
mers Union in Georgia, convulsed the
audience by his humorously- dressed ar
gument for the support of the farmers to
the good roads movement.
The farmer has got to this point now
said Mr.. Lee. He has either got to haul
brick out from town over bad roads and
build himself a bank in his backyard, or
he must help to build good roads to town
One or the other. 1 guarantee that the
farmers of Georgia will do their pert for
better roads,
The meeting, lively in its discourse ant
made more attractive by the interspersed
music of the band, is looked upon by Car
tersvilIe citizens as one of the most signih-
can't and successful in the history Of the
county. 1t will be Immediately followed
by OF hers. they promise. The active work
for q I'd roads in Barlow county has defi-
nitely begun.