Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-20
President Taft Unable to At
tend Good Roads Congress.
IN SYMPATHY WITH OBJECT
Convention Opens in Richmond With
800 Delegates Present.
ITS PURPOSES EXPLAINED
Addresses by Secretary Wilson,
Logan Waller Page and Others.
Campaign of Education.

RICHMOND. Va. November 2o.-The
first American Good Roads Congress
opened here today without it's most dis
tinguished delegate-President Taft
Late last night the President tele-
graphed the managers of the convention
that the White House physicians forbade
him to risk the visit to Richmond be-
cause of the development of a cold
which the President took on the last
day of his western trip.
President Taft, in telegraphing his re-
grets. said:
Il have been looking forward to TAX
ing part in the Good Roads Congress
with great deal of pleasure because I
i'm sympathy with the movement,
which is gaining strength in every state
and in the nation, for the construction of
permanent good roads
The effect they will have in increasing
the value of farms. in making the lives
of farmers and their families much more
full of comfort, and I'm the general benfit
conferred by greater ease of intercom-
munication the country over, cannot be
exaggerated. 1 wish L could be present
to utter my approval and encourage
ment."
The Secretary OF Agriculture, James
NISoH Cdifc HONeNti. DIS Tic IIESiucul
representative. and was the guest of
honor at most of the functions which had
been planned for the President. A very
elaborate luncheon by the Richmond
Chamber of Commerce was abandoned,
however. 1t was to have cost 5000.
Delegates Enthusiastic.
About 300 delegates settled down to the
first days work, much disappointed by
fba oh h,,% 10
for good roads throughout the nation.
One of the objects of this congress is to
set afoot an organized road building move
ment within states. No federal aid is to
be asked, but each locality is to be stim-
ulated to share in a general plan.
The program OF the first session Of the
Secretary Wilson, included a welcome to
the delegates by Gov. Mann OF Virginia
and addresses by Senator'S Martin and
Swanson. Logan W. Page, director of the
good roads office of the Department OF
Agriculture and president of the Ameri-
can Association for Highway. Improve
nseut, was also to speak.
President w. w. Finley OF the Southern
railway, Representative John Lamb of
Virginia, chairman of the House COM
mittee on agriculture. and Representative
j. Hampton Moore of Pennsylvania were
also speakers
Interest IN the congress is Intense, eS-
pecially from the southern states, which
have sent large delegations. Most of these
come from localities where local good
roads associations have been formecs
About 40 such organizations are repre-
sented in the movement for the better
ment of the highways of the SOUTH, to
which this congress will devote much OF
its attention.
Director Pages Address.
1.-The most important subject in con-
nection with the whole question OF road
improvement is maintenance declared
Logan Waller Page, director of the public
roads. United States Department of Agri-
culture, in the course of his address. THE
people in many countries are filled with
enthusiasm for road improvement" con-
tinued Director Page, land are Fastening
to spend enormous sums of money In tie
construction Of superb roads. and yet al
most without exception they are making
no provision to care for the roads after
they are built The same holds true with
reference to road construction under
many of our state highway departments
Mr.. Page said 1t required considerable
annual outlay to keep roads In good con-
dition, but that this outlay was infinitely
less than the loss which must fall upon
the people eventually If they allowed them
to go to ruin.
Provide continuous. systematic main
tenance and set aside every year an
amount per mile estimated by the en-
gineer in charge he advised, ito be sutff-
cient for the proper maintenance of the
road. and you will fo,iow a course which
must make for economy and efficiency.
1T Is necessary" declared Mr.. Page,
that thorough campaign of education
be conducted In every locality where the
burden of bad roads hangs like mill
stone about the nechs of the people. In
this campaign of education three things
have definite object: second. that your
plans must be practicable. and third, that
they must have intrinsic merit.
Purposes of the Association.
I'm launching the American Association
for Highway improvement we endeavor
to fulfill these three requirements by the
announcement of definite purposes easily
capable Of accomplishment and contain
ing such intrinsic merit that their general
adoption would place road conditions in
this country on sound and economical
basis These purposes are:
ITO correlate and harmonize the efforts
of all existing organizations working for
road improvement.
ITO arouse and stimulate sentiment for
road improvement.
ITO strive for wise. equitable and uni
form road legislation in every state
ITO aid In bringing about efficient road
administration in the states and their
subdivisions. involving the introduction Of
skilled supervision and the elimination of
politics from the management Of the pub
lie roads
ITO seek continuous and systematic
maintenance Of all roads, the classifica-
ton Of all roads according to traffic re-
uuirements, payment OF road taxes in
cash, and adoption OF the principle Of
state aid and state supervision.
Correlation of Road Construction.
ITO advocate the correlation of all road
construction SO that the important roads
of each county shall connect with those
Of the adjoining counties and the i'm
portant roads of each state shall connect
with those of adjoining states"
In conclusion. Director Page lauded the
loyal and spirited support given the
movement by the railroad companies. 1T
lis immateriaI whether they are actuated
by wise foresight or whether they have
the welfare Of the people along their lines
solely at heart he said; "the fact re-
mains that they are doing a work which
benefits every man. woman and child
within the zone Of their influence and
fun credit should be given to them for
it."
Views of Secretary Wilson.