The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
RICHMOND HOST TODELEGATES ID ROADS CONGRESS Most Distinguished Guest, President Taft, Is
 Absent SECRETARY WILSON
 GUEST OF HONOR Large Delegations Come From the Southern States-Martin Favors Federal Appropriations.
 Wilson's Speech

Richmond, Va, November 20.-Thf first American good roads congress onened here today with its most dis tinguished delegate, President Taft, ab- sent. Late last night the Fresioeh' telegraphed the manager or the con gress that the White House physiclan forbade him visiting Richmond because of the development of severe coio which the President contracted on the last day of his western itinerary.
 Secretary Wilson came as the Pres- jdent's representative and was the gpest of honor at most of the func- lions which had been planned Tor MT Taft.
 About 300 delegates settled down to the first days work enthused for sooo roads throughout the nation. one ol tne obiects of the congress is. setting or ,a,,zad movements of good roads ih different states. No federal aid IS tc ha asked but each locality Is to De stimulated to share in general plan.
 rho nropramme of the first session in addition to an address by Secretary Wilson included welcome 10 the uei- egstes by Governor Mann or Nirsihia' addresses by Senator Martin ana swan son and by Logan ". Page, director of the good roads office Of the oe- partment of agriculture.
 President w. w. Finley of the southern v.,,v,av. Representative Lamb of Nlrginla' ob.irman of the House committee on asii- culture. and Representative d. ii"nip.oi Moore of Pennsylvania, were also o'i'ei speakers. ~ ,,.t,-
 1,torest has been aroused in the south-
 a4,+as which have sent large delega- t,ons Most of these come from coiiiiiuiii- t,o., ,,bere good roads associations nave o,raody been formed. About 1lO such or -a,,,.a+,ons are representated in the e'.., for the betterment of the high- ways of the south to which the cohs' e'' xyilI devote much of its attention.
 II,s aeclarations approved by senator ,,--o,, of Virginia and Senator Bank ,9a og Alabama, Senator Martih, in ,o,.,tv leader of the Senate saiu ho ads asl, President Taft to take up eoou m his message. .o,.orad federal
 sehaeI. tone of at least $l0,oOo,vU per app so, good roads at the expense oi reducing the rieei anu
 inrre prasidant Finley of the Southern la.
 sotd inc improved highway lloN.,
 a,t m was part of the "back to 'iie iaii- propaganda. ,..oa to the cost of liv- .ne was discussed by United o.a.vs in tapv of Agriculture James r Good loi hef0re the NJOOo naads c,ongress. He declared tue ooss ,,,,ing 1yould be reduced when enei ot N'i astahlished a more intimate reia'io'' ,,at,vean the producer and the coiio '.,a 1HTi+b the increase in the good roao iiiAis ace the parcels post. he said' "ouiu pv, ',,. ses+ the facilities for getting lfoiii 'iAo farm to the town. na +own
 .po,ot;ons between farmers ana town folks can he established, ne eApio ~ for the prompt transfer dally ol of rnuch that the farmer prouuoes ~ town people consume. AL present
 tha town dweller pays dollar, the lar n .,.e ..ots balf or less. With parcels pos< tho sa ar,ner would get more. the carrier would get his freight and the consumer would get his supplies promptly 1resn and good. Dairy products, fruts' inea.' and vegetables are transferred Tn tiiis way in other countries, with great sa.io faction to all concerned and with iess unhealthy food. fewer ptomaines and less freouent stomach troubles.
 The value of farm land and the eNleny and character of production thereon aio . Influenced largely, the secretary pointsS ont by the condition of the public roaos' Many products, he said, cannot be trans ported for long distances over poor roads, so that farmers in such country must raise crops that are not perishable. This works loss to both producer and con- sumer, to the former in that he must deliver his goods when the roads per- init, to the latter in that he must pay higher prices than if good roads would permit the farmer to deliver his milk, fruit and vegetables with less wear and tear on horses and wagons and in less time.
 Every farmer should, merely as a mat ter of self interest" said the Secretary, 'be strong advocate of road improve
 ment and should give practical support
 to a movement looking to the betterment | of present conditions
 | Turning to what has been done in this direction by the department of agricul- | ture through it's bureau of good roads. the secretary declared that as a result | of object lesson roads constructed by the bureau in various states nearly 10000 miles or good roads had been built Last year it was found from a careful inves- tigation made in connection with 8 short object lesson roads, none of them more | than a mile in length, that 730 miles of additional road had been completed and that an increase of $1,5OO,O0O had been ex- pended in the work These object lesson roads" he con- tinued, are constructed under the direc-
 ton or engineers from the bureau of good
 roads, whose services are given abso. iuteiy free of cost to the local comm.
 hities, although the road itself must be punt at the cost of the locality. Our
 iaporatories for the testing of road ma | terials are now considered the forenoos,
 Tn the world, and provide for the test. l ing or road materials to determine thei, l reiative value, such tests being made fref
 or charge for any citizen of the ITnjtei
 states. In addition, our laboratories ar,
 working constantly on the problems n oeVising materials and combinations n,
 materials Tor the construction and treat
 ineht or roads to meet modern trafe;,
 conditions brought about by the introduc
 uon or the automobile" He spoke or
 nuniper or experiments made fin va,.in,,. | terial N'""s ol road ma
 enormous expenditures for road ,r,
 proVement during the past few uaa ,.a,