The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-03-03


who have built their roads properly.
We are thousands of years behind
the times, said MFR. Taylor. The Ro-
mans, before the birth Of Christ, we're
building fine roads from one end Of
italy to the other. The Appian way
was completed in the year 20 b. c.,
and at the present time, the highway
is said to be almost as good as II was
at it's completion. This shows the
quality of the material with which It
was built and the manner in which It
ing fact shown by the speaker was
that concerning the Ameri C a n
sports who go to Europe each year
to drive on good roads and to spend
money. He SAID that each year, these
men spend enough money for pleas
ure in the foreign countries to build
first-class highway from Washing
fon, ID. c., to Kansas City, Mo. This
fact is probably Incredible to a great
many persons, but the estimate
has been made by men who nave
studied in that line and who are pre-
plred 10 make such statement. Mr..
Taylor said that in France, the es-
duce is seven cents for each mile. In
the United States, it has been found
to be about Iwenty-three cents. This
is caused by good roads in France and
bad roads in our country. Out of the
two million miles of roadways in the
United States, only 250,000 miles Of
of hauling produce in our country is
one of the causes of the high price Of
food stnffs an the very persons who
make the most talk about this great
evil" are the ones who make the great
est objection to the Advancement of
the American highway. A startling
the course of his address. He invited
any man present to visit any insane
asylum and inquire the cause of the
present condition of almost half of the
female inmates. The answer that he
will receive from the wardens or the
doctors will agtonish him because it
will be that the woman was driven in
sane by solitude. She had lived in
the country and on bad roads where
her friends and neighbors seldom WIS.,
tied her because of the miserable con-
dition of the road leading to her home.
Solitude and loneliness are the great
est incentives of insanity known and
it is only reasonable for one to con-
slider that the asylums are populated
by the existence of unkept and almost
impossible roads.
Mr.. A. H. Houston of Columbus,
president of the Ohio Good Roads
Association, was the last speaker to
address the gathering. He spoke on
organization and gave many strong
points in favor of local associations
that can work to one end. He advo-
Gated immediate organization of the
citizens of Knox county that work
might be begun Immediately on the
roads nnd highways of the county.
At the conclusion of the speaking,
on motion, bylaw committee COM
posed of the following men was ap-
pointed: E. r. Shireman, w. p. Bo-
gardus, R. L. Litton, C. P. Franks of
the state sanatorium and DR.. q. ID.
Arndt. The bylaws had been prev
iously prepared by the state associa.
ton and after reading them carefully,
the committee reported favorably in
regard to their adoption and by a
unanimous vote, they were adopted
The next matter considered was
that of the nomination of officers. A
nominating committee composed of L.
C. Penn, William White and ]. c.
/ Tinkey was appointed by the chair
The following officers were nominated
by the committee and they were unan
imouslv elected:
President-H. c. Devin.
Vice President-C. B. Smith of Cen
terburg.
Secretary-William F. Rimer.
Treasurer-Carl N. Lorey.
Executive committees. G. Dowds
DR.. J. =. Shrontz of Martinsburg, Johr
Cunningham of Gambler, C. P. Franks
of the state sanatorium and C. B
Smith of Centerburg.
BY an unanimous vote, thanks Were
extended to the out-of-town citizen:
who were present during the evening
for their efforts and assistance which
they gave in behalf of the cause.
Senator Alsdorf explained the dut
les of the officers as we'll as the loca
association in general. He said tina
the first work that must begin is t.
ascertain the method by which tn,