The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-06
1 alt Escaped Net


uim TO the White House Tor several
Says prevented certain compliratIons
t""t we're sure to arise. with his nj
'c'odhce on ;he American Roads Con
IresS' held in Richmond. Va. accord
hs 10 commissioner OF Public Works
LOUIS h. Rourke ana John j. O'Cal-
lahan secretary to tie Boston street
Commissioners, who went 10 Rici,
city. -, y, IN, rnt
Elaborate plans had been made S' b. =
inc congress To welcome President
Tart 1t was the first ga,herlngof
me congress. attended by about 700
persons from all over the United
states, and the President was expected
10 make speech which would result
IN stimulating the various States to
the Importance OF road buildings. He
was also expected 10 define the ad-
ministrntion's position on Interstate
highways.
But senator Martin, of Virginia. had
deeper interest in The Presidents
VISIT. lie desired TO commit him to
the great project which he outlined
10 the congress, of building two trans
con- mental highways, from coast to
coast. which would involve the OK
pend!tnre of about s50.OOo.ooo. and to
wiring from Mr.. Taft n promise tina,
nc would make this project one of the
FEATURES OF his program for Congress
.Not content with that. the senator
from Virginia would also have AIR.
Iaft give administration Endorsement
70 project of building a highway
from Quebec to Miami. Fla.
But President Taft did not fall into
inc net y day before he was cx
nected in Richmond word came from
washington that he was i'll with n
cold Possibly his most friendly nd
Nisers had received hint OF SEN
itor Martins proposition and had
warned the President that If he had
to be III at any time this winter. tho
most favorable time for 1t had ar
rived The President may also hay.
been advised that the congress meet
lnG in ittchmond did not really cali
Tor presidential dignity. made I'm MS II
was 10 great extent Of professional
road builders, engineers and road an
paratus promoters.
Messrs. Ronrke and O'CnlIahan came
away from the meetings with prncu-i
cary no information of value for Bos-
loh' JheE were free to tell the people
mere that none OF the speeches were
of value TO them. as the state or
had solved the prob-
lem Of road building with its hun
dreds of miles Of fine State roads.
and privately many OF the visitors
agreed with the Boston men thai
is way in the van OF
all other States in the Union IN this
respect.
When the question came nm Of tho
next meeting place, Messrs Rourkc
ana O'Callahan asked the COMMITTEES
having charge OF the naming of The
city why they did not come
IN boston. where there was every
thing TO see and learn about good
roads. Several persons had suggested
charlotte. y. c., as the next mccting
place for no apparent reason. hut
hoston VIII be considered.
Several instances of disernccful
roads were related 10 this congress.
one was by two women from Ohio.
who declared that soon after buyint.
an automobile they gave IL away he
cause al was no pleasure 10 ride with
such poor roads in their locality. An
other incident was related BY MIR
OCailahan, who tried I'm Washington
to hire an automobile TO visit Mount
Vernon, ana was told that no auto
mobiles make that journey of seven
teen miles because Of the poor roads.
To Commissioners Rourkc. ut least
Inc trip was interesting i'll one re-
spect, and that was The opportunity
afforded to inspect the Richmond
garbage moderator, located within
II g minutes walk OF City Hail. ana
being operated without dirt, NTH or
odor and without complaint Of any
sort from the populacc. In Boston.
when IT was proposed to build on the
part OF the city certain incinerators
In RoNbury ANA Dorchester, protests
streamcd into City Hall and the pro-
tect practically fell through.-Boston
Transcript.