The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-01-21
GOOD ROADS IN UTAH
Delegates from All over Utah Boost.
Ing for Improvement in High
ways-Good Roads Associa-
ton Formed.

number of $50, from all portions of
the state, gathered in Salt Lake City
on Thursday. January IA, for the pur
pose of discussing the important
question of the improvement of the
public highways of the state Among
the important things accomplished al
the opening session was the appoint
ment of legislative committee, con
sisting of one member from ea1
county and ten at large from Salt
Lake, which was instructed to report
at Fridays session of the convention.
A resolution committee of five mem
bers, and one on permanent organi-
zation of ten members was also ap-
pointed. John Dern was named TEN
porary chairman and ]. Z. Jennings.
secretary.
Professor r. r. Lyman and J.. w.
Page, of the department of agrlcul-
ture at Washington, gave some eH-
cellent advice as to the different
methods of road making. Professor
Lyman advocated a well built road
of dirt as the best foundation for the
macadam or asphaltum road that
could be had. and quoted literally
from figures as to cost of mainte.
nance and construction. According
to these figures a road Of asphaltum
would cost $4,000 a mile, with a
given width of 80 feet A good dirt
read could be constructed by means
of a scraper and a split log drag for
$50 to $40 a mile and maintained for
= OF
forwards
Professor r. r. Lyman made the
statement during the course of an
address to the delegates that road
through Utah of sufficient strength
and durability to Withstand the wear
and tear of automobiles could be
built at a cost of no less than $4,000
a mile Judge O. w. Powers stated
that the growing popularity of the
automobile was directly responsible
for the present movement for better
roads.
After two long and enthusiastic
sessions on Thursday, the good roads
convention finished its business.
thoroughly organized a State Good
Roads association. decided in detail
upon the good roads measures that
the present legislature will be asked
to adopt and adjourned sine die. The
convention was a success in every
way.
The plan now arranged for pur-
poses of carrying out system Of.
good roads throughout the state is
the appointment of commission by
the governor of the state, the COM
,,,tc Cd To CtCt nf IA NJ
the state engineer, the state treas
urer, an engineer from the Univer-
sity of Utah and an engineer from
the State Agricultural college. This
commission will select competent
highway engineer, who will have
charge of all the roads in the state,
without being under the jurisdiction
of the state engineer except as that
individual represents the commission
of five members,
This highway engineer Will be a
salaried officer. and will hold his po-
sition as long as he continues to give
competent service. The details of
this scheme are embodied in a bill
which will be presented to the legis
lature during the present session.
The permanent organization of the
convention was effected. as follows:
President, Governor William Spry;
secretary and treasurer, ]. q. Jen
nings; an executive committee of five
members, two from Salt Lake county
and one each from Weber, Cache and
! Utah counties. Senator Herschel Bull
| len, jr., was elected to serve from
| Cache county, George M. Cannon ant
! o. Fl. Hewlett from Salt Lake county
Joseph Dunn of Provo from Utaf
county and o. B. Madsen of Ogder
from Weber county.
Vice.presidents were elected, one
from each county.
The subject of good roads was
made the basis of discussion be
tween Governor Spry and l.. W. Page
director of public roads OF the de
partment of agriculture, at meet
ing held in the governors Office Fri
day morning.
A number of senators and repre-
sentatives were present at the con
ference, and many details of gooC
roads construction were pretty thor
oughly threshed out The matter o
administration of the scheme in or
der to avoid any interference from
politics, was especially dwelt upon
and Mr.. Page outlined plan for this
and also gave a good deal OF informa
ton regarding the methods of con
structing hard surface roads.