The sun., 1910-01-02
GOOD ROADS IDEA GAINS FAVOR
MOVEMENT MAKING PROGRESS
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
More Meetings and Conventions oS Em-
proved Highway Adv ocates Held Dur
Ing Past Year Than Ever Before
Farmers Taking Aggressive Interest.

y
proved Highway Adv 0cates Held Dur
Ing Past Year Than Ever Before
Farmers Taking Aggressive Interest.
Never before In the history OF this country
has there been such widespread interest In
and practical activity for good raods as 10
the case at the present time. The good
roads conventions that have been held
during the past year have been remarkable.
not only in number but In the results ac-
complished. In the South sentiment for
improved highways has crystallized into
definite action. in most cases being led by
the Governors and leading State officials.
Many miles OF new roads are now about to
be built, hundreds Of miles are already
under Improvement and substantial! sp-
prOpriations have been voted by gcores
Of counties and townships.
Conventions have been held in Louisiana.
Mississippi. Tennessee. Virginia, Arkansas,
North Carolina. and Georgia: on the Pacific
coast, Seattle had the first conference Of
road builders. the American Road Mahers
Association held its sl1th annual meeting
In Columbus, Ohio Cleveland was the scene
Of the second annual national good roads
convention which originated the previous
year in big meeting in Buffalo and was
ably supported by the National Grange,
United State once OF Public Roads, farmers
clubs OF the country and every other body
actively at work In the good roads move
ment, IL has been a year OF good roads
conventions and the meetings already
planned for tbe coming year indicate that
the agitation for good roads will reach a
higher standard of efficiency in 1910 than
ever before.
The much maligned automobile has
played an important part in the movement
for serviceable highways. Once regarded
as the enemy OF roads and In some measure
of mankind. the benefits OF the motor vehicle
are now acknowledged as Of inestimable
value. II the automobile aroused discus
sion and criticism by destroying the roads
considered good enough for the last genera
ton II is now widely recognized as the
forerunner OF better roads. IL has forced
the road builders and engineers to deal
with new problems. the old system Of con-
struction has been revolutionized and the
methods OF proper maintenance are being
studied with more care.
George c. Diehl. chairman Of tho good
Association, spoke very truly when he said
at one OF the recent conv entions:
mobiles running the roads SStomoSiiSs % %
But the interesting fact is that automobiles
Of time when the automobiIs viii be used
in hauling farm products. Then when
we have arriyed at the question Of proper
Of rapid travel butt but has also S solved o1 the
As a contrast to the automobilists' point
of view II Is interesting to see the farmers
attitude OF the present day. The time was.
and the motorist were supposed to be at
cross purposes. To a large extent they
% ayln 5haf master nov OF ,' me ob,o sssGsy sssy.
view ot the serlcultarist on this QUESTION
, RitSoash the question of i'T road az improve
ment Ia OF direct interest to the residents
Of our towns and cities II is and always must
BY far the rrestest mileage Of our roads is
located in the farming dietricts. and the
in getting their, products 70 market and for
social intercourse with their peigbbors.
While NE Join with our friends, the owners
we Of the Ohio State Grange believe that
1Pss 2.Ssn Gr nSs = Ssc9 or sSS SSSe ths
settled rightly must be settled In accordance
with the wishes Of the farmers
| As the farmers In the Western States are
becoming enthusiastic automobile owners
realizing the benefits OF the motor vehicle
Sr tSey az are osnS nSre D ana .n
good roads problem in the same light as
the motorists. With these two widely sepa-
harmony great changes for the national
good are certain to result
In mlleake the United States has the
/ greatest system OF roads which any country
has pOssessed since the world began. Ac-
cording to a careful road census. the length
OF all our roads amounts to 2,i55.O0O mica
The annual expenditure on these roads Ia
approximately 500, 600 900, Road admins
basis in about half the States OF the Union,
comprising the New England States, New
York, Pennsylvania. New Jersey, Delaware
Maryland. Virginia. West Virginia. Ohio,
Michigan, Illinois. Wisconstn. Minnesota,
Missouri, Kansas. California and WASH
ington. These have adopted In principle or
practice the system OF centralizing under
a state highway department the road
work OF the state. thereby securing uni
formity in methods. economy In adminlstra-
tion and skill In supervision.
\ An Important meeting OF the good roads
board OF the American Automobile Associa-
| ton has been called for next Thursday,
January 9. By Chairman George g, Diehl.
The meetine 10 scheduled to be held at the
and q large attendance is expected, as q
Tsat many sytSmSbilists from all over
/ ahnX La The Grand CAntral Palacn. -