The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-24

to be one of the greatest importance
to the people of this state at this time
and one requiring their immediate and
earnest attention, and we recommend
that the approaching legislative as
sembly repeal our obsolete road laws
and adopt in their stead, laws which
will secure a more scientific and intel
ligent system of road construction I'M
der the direction Of competent expert
authority, and
Whereas, highways constructed
in a permanent manner would benefit
future generations who should bear a
portion of the burden of their construc-
ton, and the money to build them can
be borrowed on the credit of the state
at a very low rate of interest as COM
pared with what individuals are COM
PEELED to pay, and the only addition
to the taxes of the present generation
would be this small item of annual
interest,
Therefore be 1t resolved, that
we recommend that the consti-
tuition Of the state be amended in such
manner that bonds may be issued
in aid of highways built under the
direction Of or according to specifica-
tons furnished by the state engineer;
and,
: Whereas, there is now pending in
the U. S. congress a bill known as
Senate Bill 6931 to provide for an ex-
pertinent in the improvement of GER
tain highways by the secretary of ag-
riculture; in cooperation with the
postmaster general,
! Therefore, be 1t resolved, that
We favor the adoption of said bill
and that our senators and representa-
tives in congress be requested to give
it their support, and
| Whereas, the object of this or
ganization is educational
| Therefore be 1t resolved, that
the proceedings of the several
state good roads conventions be COM
piled and printed and distributed by
the farmers Institutes or otherwise,
provided money for that purpose can
! be raised by appropriation by the
! legislature or in any other manner.
! Be 1t further resolved; that
! the next meeting of this organization
be held at Bismarck during the next
| session Of the legislature.
! Be 1t further resolved:
That our thanks are due and are
! hereby rendered
To the press for the reports which
they have made of this convention.
To the commercial club Of Fargo
for the funds supplied for defraying
the expenses of this meeting.
To President Worst of the Agricul-
tural college for rendering the college
armory as a place Of meeting.
To the officers of this association for
their efforts in preparing for and carry
ing out this session of our convention.
The principal address in the after
noon was that of Howard H. Gross of
! Chicago. His subject was a very prac-
tical one, What Shall We Do to Get
Good Roads in North Dakota? The
! speaker was forceful, convincing and
| specific and held his audience with I'M
divided attention for an hour. He said
in part:
THE good roads question is a big
one and must be dealt with in a big
way. At this time the state is ex-
pending upwards of 100000 per year
on the roads.
What have you got to show for it?
"The road laws of the state are OBJ
solete, the labor system of working out
road taxes is ineffective and wasteful
and often does more harm than good
With such system and with township
management of the road funds at least
half the money is wasted, frittered
away by i'll timed and misdirected eff
fort. The taxpayers have been getting
so cents or less Of road work for 81
of tax"
The first legislation necessary, the
speaker said, was the abolition of the
labor system and to make all road
taxes payable in cash. (This was ap-
plauded) Next he said the township
unit was too small; that the county
and not the townships should be- the
unit. In order to have the best su-
pervision and the best results there
should be created a central state au-
thority charged with responsible duties
and to assist and direct road improve
ment; to investigate and ascertain the
best methods to use and teach the art
of road building to the county official
having charge of the highways.
From an experience of fifteen years
of close study and observation be be-
lieved a state highway commission.
such as they have in Minnesota, uli-
nois and many other states was tie
best way to 'leal with the subject.
Hence the speaker made the following
definite suggestions, saying as he did
so they were not presented as neces-
sarily the best in every detail, bur he
general plan was the best so far in
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