The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-12-08
THE IMPORTANCE AND EFFEC
TIyENESS OF GOOD ROADS

the state OF washington mas never
been better demonstrated nor
brought to the attention Of the pub
lie in more effective manner than
by recent number Of the Pacific
B .ilder & Engineer. The issue OF
November 18th of this prominent
trade paper is entirely devoted to the
18th annual convention of the Wash
ington State Good Roads association
held at Wenatchee late this fall. All
Of the leading discussions and papers
presented at that convention are
contained, with large number OF
fine half-tone illustrations, in this is
sue of the journal.
h. Some two pages are devoted to
original editorial comment, dealing
with the road situation In the great
er northwest; in Washington and
British Columbia in particular. The
editorial attitude of this publication
is expressed most favorably In behalf
of convict labor for public highway
construction.
The papers of this convention are
grouped under two general subjects;
the constructive and social phases of
Good Roads. The first phase is COW
cred by State Highway Commissioner
W. J. Roberts, King County Engi-
neer J. R. Morrison. and Seattle Har-
Dor Engineer R. H. Thomson, dealing
respectively with state, county and
private effort in the construction Of
highways. Mr.. Thomson's paper
treats in most interesting manner
of the remarkable road work dome in
Klickitat county, between Maryhill
and Goldendale, by Sam Hill and in
the construction of which Professor
Lancaster has developed dump
wagon destined to contribute, proba-
bly,, as much as any one actor in the
state to the economical construction
of roadways. Mr.. Hill, i'm speaking
of the Lancaster tractor, says that if
this wagon continues to show as fa-
vorable results as it has on this road
that he will feel amply repaid for his
twelve years of earnest and continu-
Gus work in behalf of Good Roads
for the state of Washington.
In developing the social problems,
associated with the Good Roads
movement, L. L. Bush of Bay Center,
Wash. has a scholarly, unusual and
unique paper in which he presents
an argument for Good Roads as an
important factor destined to stay the
selective processes which are now 60
ing on in society. He claims that the
lack of Good Roads throughout the
country is largely the cause of the
best element forsaking the country
and going to the city in search of
the advantages which the metropolit-
an centers offer, leaving behind the
less aggressive and more snlftless ell
ement of human nature to become
the fore-fathers of the race; the
country families increasing in num-
bers while the city families decrease.
With the coming of good roads this
immigration will be stopped, rural
'centers will be developed and the
best element of the race will be kppt
in the country and the future pres
tige of the mature will become an
assured fact. e..
In handling the social and econom-
.ic feature of convict labor with ref
erence to highways, Mr.. Fairchild, OF
Tacoma, has discussed the honor sys-
tenn in vogue in Colorado and Ore
gon, and severely criticises the way
convict labor is being employed in
the state of Washington.
Another unique feature. or phase,
of the social problem is enlarged up
on by A. Warren Gould, who presents
a most interesting paper on the capt.
talization of our scenery in which he
points out that the scenic resources
of the greater northwest exceed those
of any other section of the world.
These resources, he argues, should be
made available to the travelling pub
lie and to the luxury-loving tourist
by means of modern highways. Mr..
Gould would prove that large sums
of money would be spent by the mo-
tor touring public in this section Of
the country If Good Roads were here
to attract it.
The development Of primary trans
portation as a national problem is
covered quite fully by comprehen-
sive article prepared by Samuel Hill.
1t is doubtful If any contribution
equal in value to that which is con-
tanned in the current issue of the Pa
cific Builder & Engineer has APP
reared for the cause of Good Roads