Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-24
Council Bluffs
GOOD ROADS, DINNER THEAE
Carriers and Postmasters Hear How
to Make Them Better.
DUTY DEvOIvEs UPON PUBLIC
Number Of Public Men Guests,
who Tell what Ma he Done
and who should Do
Work.

ana VINO ShohAo Do
work.
The need Of a more systematic system
OF working the roads and a more careful
expenditure OF the local road funds was
the keynote Of the majority Of the talks
at the Good Roads" dinner and program
held yesterday afternoon. under the au-
spices OF the Pottawattamie County Rural
Letter Carriers association. The dinner
served by the women OF the congregation
Ia the basement OK the First Christian
church Of Council Bluffs was all that
could be desired and provsd a thoroughly
enjoyable and Informal gathering Of men
who arc especially Interested in the better
ment BIZ the country thoroughfares.
The speakers were W.. H. James of Coun-
ell Bluffs, retiring president Of the Rural
Letter Carriers association; joseph w.
Smith. senior member Of the firm OF Joe
Smith g. Co., Of Council Bluffs; Postmaster
IA. S. Hazelton OF Council Bluffs; Attor-
ney John. M. calvin of Council Bluffs; Vic
tor Rosewater, editor Of The Omaha Bee;
Colonel w. F. Baker Of the board Of
county supervisors and Thomas H. Mo
Donald OF Ames, state highway engineer.
After the excellent meal furnished by
the good women Of the church had been
satisfactorily disposed Of, ". H. james,
lretinng president OF the county organiza-
lion OF rural letter carriers, and one Of
the most ardent and active advocates Of
the good roads movement, started the
ball rolling with a few Introductory re-
marks in his capacity as postmaster. Mr..
James handled the subject without gloves
and declared that the lock Of system in
road work in this and other counties was
responsible for the poor condition OF the
thoroughfares during the greater part Of
the year.
Debt OF the Public.
we look to the Postal department for
out monthly salary check. but we look to
the public for business. consequently It is
the puDlic which should furnish the things
with which to do that business, and the
one essential thing is better roads" said
Mr.. James.
Joe Smith, who was assigned the sub
ject. The Roads as the Business Man Sees
Them" said that he had no hesitation In
stating that all roads leading into Council
Bluffs should be improved and maintained
in the best of condition, but that 81 roads
leading out of the city should be ~dynamited
and plaearded Leave your money in Coun-
ell Bluffs In a more serious vein Mr.,
Smith took the position that the welfare
anu prosperity OL q community QepeuQOu
largely on the good condition of the roads.
Good roads are a valuable asset to any
community" declared Mr.. Smith.
Government at Fault.
Postmaster Hazelton spoke on the SUBJ
ject OF What the Department Expects Of
the Roads" He said that without intend
ing to criticize or cast any reflection on the
powers in Washington, he believed the de-
partment was as much to blame for the
poor roads as any other element. In his
opinion before establishing any rural route
the department should insist on the roads
being placed in proper condition and II not
so maintained the route discontinued. 'All
the department now asks of the patrons of
these rural routes is that hey provide
suitable boxes in which the carrier may
deposit the mail without leaving his
wagon said Mr.. Hazelton. He contrasted
the difference between the obligations
placed by the government on a patron out
side the city and one inside. In a city, he
said, before free delivery lie given the
houses must be numbered and there must
be proper sidewalks and other conveniences
for the carriers. He would favor discon-
tinuing the service on any route until the
roads were put into passable condition.
What Effect Does the Automobile Have
on the Good Roads Movement" was the
topic assigned Attorney John M. Calvin,
who explained that he did not own an
automobile and never expected to. He said
he was like the mar who sang Home
Sweet Home" but had no home or like
the mar who warbled Life on the Ocean
Wave and had never smeIled the salt
breeze or seen the ocean. He managed
to tell a few good stories apropos Of the
subject and paid a tribute to the rural
carriers for their faithful work under
most trying conditions.
National Roads.
Victor Rosewater, who was assigned
National Roads," for his subject, ex-
planned there we're no national roads ex-
cept a few leading into military reserva-
lions and the national cemeteries and re-
garding the latter he said he was sure the
residents were not looking for the de-
livery of mail. He told Of the old national
road known as the Cumberland road.
about 500 miles in length from Cumber-
land TO vandalia. ILL.,. but this had long
passed from government control into that
Of the states through which II passed. He
explained how the state OF Nebraska was
better off in the matter Of the road prob
lem than Iowa. owing to the fact that the
income from the Inheritance tax was put
into a permanent road fund. He referred
20 the bill now pending in congress which
contemplates annual appropriations to the
various states to be used exclusively in
improving its roads. After reading some
statistics concerning the rural mail SER
vice. Mr.. Rosewater said;
II believe We underestimate the Influence
Of rural letter carriers in the good roads
movement There are 10000 rural letter car
riers and 1900 substitute carriers. / would
rather a their Influence than the 100000
automobile owners referred to BIZ Mr..
CLAWS, who use the roads once in a while
when the weather is good in the SUMMED
time"