Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-09
FOR BETTER ROADS
Delegates to 0maha's Convention
Boost Highway Betterment.
AUTO ASSOCIATION is FORMED
.G~atherinE Bears Fruit In Permanent
OrRBniEatiOn-Addresses Given
by Experts of Nebraska
aud Illinois.

The Omaha good roads convention held
yesterday resulted in the organization OF
a state automobile association and general
declarations for the betterment of the high
ways OF the state. Delegates poured in
through the day and when the evening
session at the Omaha Commercial club was
called to order last night there was a full
attendance.
At the night session Prof. George r
.Chatburn of the state university, president
iof the state Good Roads association, and
"A. N. Johnson, state highway engineer or
Illinois. delivered speeches.
At the afternoon meeting in the council
chamber Prof. Chatburn led off with the
assertion that the present laws of Ne
braska must be revised before anything
worth while can be accomplished in the
way 90 securing good roads. He expressed
himself in favor Of organization by counties
and then a compact, strong state organ
%lzation to make its business particularly
the building OF good roads.
Dan ", Stephens of Fremont coupled
good roads and drainage together, the one
as being the natural complement of the
other. He said Dodge county now has an
expenditure of $4,000 planned for an ex-
tension OF ats drainage system. He said
the educational program is being pushed
continually and the people Of Dodge county
are now ready to go to the Legislature
in an effort to have the laws changed so
that townships may vote bonds IL they
so desire. He believed enough could be
saved to the farmers OF the country every
year by uniformly good roads to build
two Panama canals a year, or $3.50, 900, 900.
e. Figures in Dispute.
Engineer johnson of Illinois in a brief
taik rather questioned the figures quoted
by Mr.. Stevens, although he had helped to
make them. He said they were technical
figures, true in one sense, but not ac-
tually setting out the essential elements
Of cost.
Mt. johnson said It is very important to
start out right on a campaign such as is
desired in Nebraska, and the first thing to
do is to have the laws amended in a proper
way.
W. G. Whitmore, regent Of the State uni
versity. made a hit with the delegates by
saying the days of poverty and drouth
have passed in Nebraska. Il believe" he
said, "the farmers can afford to pay al
most any price in reason for good, perma-
neht roads. l am one of those who do not
care to buy an automobile until the roads
blldll pS put lulO SuCn SAldD6 INA 1 Will
not help to pull them to pieces if / speed
up the machine"
Mr.. Whitmore also alluded inclsively tc
the fact hiatt the progress of good road
making in Nebraska at present depends
solely on the death of good, thrifty citi
zens who have amassed a competence OIL
perhaps a fortune. That's too slow {
process said he, even If Il were the hes
in the world. l believe we have now com,
to the point where we must go fearlessl!
and courageously to the state Legislature
and demand what we need in such a vita
matter as this"
j Senator Willard sent a letter to be read
he being too i'll to attend, in which h,
pledged himself to aid in every way posi-
BILE the good. roads campaign.
John Grant and his son. Guy Grant, toll
briefly Of their observations during a recen
eastern trip. Their story was in favo
of the macadam that is mixed with som
asphaltic or taroid substance. The sprink
ling. or penetration, method had not prove
successful.