The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-11-16
ROADS MEN
HAVE MEETING
AT SIOUX FALLS AND ORGANIZE
s. D. GULF TO WINNIPEG
ASSOCIATION
WORK WILL Be STARTED 1t Once
Association Will Inaugurate a Good
Roads Campaion-Dr. A. A. Har-
ris 10 Elected Secretary

The good roads meeting at Sioux
Falls last Thursday was attended by
the following delegation from Brook
ings: President Harris of the Com
mercial Club, Prof. H. c. Solberg, J.
N. Smythe, o. A. Hagen, e. l.. Spurl-
ing, Henry Stearns, E. c. Olson, E.
c. Sheldon. r. F. Kerr, c. E. Poole.
They were accompanied from here by
the delegation from the north part OF
the state, who arrived in Brookings
the previous evening and We're the
guests Of the Brookings Commercial
Club until their departure for Sioux
Falls.
The first good roads convention
ever held in the State of South Da-
kota, was called to order in the Com
mercial club rooms at Sioux Falls by
Mr.. Newly, OF that city. 1t was a
great convention. Before the work
had progressed very far. the attend
ance became so large that it became
necessary to adjourn the meeting to
the auditorium. On reconvening in
the auditorium it was found that near
ly one hundred and fifty good roads
boosters were in attendance. These
delegates being representatives, Of near
ly every county and town in the state,
through which this road passes, the
banner delegation coming from Mil
bank or Grant county. While this
delegation vas not the largest in
number it certainly is entitled to the
banner. Nine men in automobiles
travelling over the proposed route
both ways a distance OF one hundred
and twenty-five miles. When nine
men travel two hundred and fifty
miles in automobiles in November
storms to attend a good roads meet
ing, we are justified in saying that
this marks a epoch in the his
tory of road making in South Dakota.
While the meeting was called pri-
marily for the purpose of forming a
State association for the purpose of
locating and improving a line Of
public highways, connecting with
North Dakota at White Rock and
with Nebraska at Sioux City, yet the
enthusiasm and eloQuence displayed
at this meeting far surpassed the
expectations of the most ardent sup
porters of this road proposition. 1t
was also pointed out at this meet
ing that the sentiment for better
roads was so strong, that before long
it will be necessary for a candidate
for the legislature to ally himself on
the side of good roads legislation be-
fore he can be elected to that body.
A regular constitution and bylaws
were adopted and a permanent or
g~anization perfected. C.. Newly Of
Sioux Falls was elected President;
DR.. A. A. Harris, Of Brookings, Sec
rotary; and o. Ofstad, of Beresford,
Treasurer. A Vice President was also
elected from each county through
which this road passes. The above
officers to constitute the executive
committee. The plan for the loca-
ton of this road as prepared and
presented by Prof. H. G. Solberg, of
Brookings, with changes to suit Ger
tain local conditions was adopted by
unanimous vote as the official route
of their association. 1t was also
pointed out in this meeting that until
such time as a permanent highway
bridge shall be erected across the
Missouri at some point within the
state Of South Dakota the only route
for through travel is the n proposed
and adopted by this association.
Other routes may be projected but
they will only serve for local travel.
1t has been generally supposed that
all good roads advocates were men
from the city. But the delegation
from Brookings to this meeting count
ed among its number three Of the
most substantial farmers and n Of
them was elected Vice President Of
the association.
The unanimous action of this as
sociation in locating this line through
Wheaton, Graceville, Ortonville. Big
Stone, Milbank, Clear Lake, Brook
ings. Dell Rapids. Sioux Falls. Beres-
ford and a large number Of smaller
towns. forever disposes Of the location
of the Official route Of the Gulf to
Winnipeg highway in South Dakota.