Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-11-21
| NEWS OF THE OLD DOMINION.
G0DDROADs CONGRESS.
Presidents Message...Senator Mar
tin Favors Expenditure of $780,
100000 a Year on Roads.

Richmond, Va, Nov. 2l.-The first
American Good Poa is Congress open ed
here yesterday without its most dis
tinguished Lrleg .te-President r.f;.
Late Sunday night the president
autographed the managers Of the con-
ventiou that the. White House physi-
clans forbade him to risk the visit to
Rlchmnnd because of the development
of a cold which is souvenir OF the last
day OF his western trip. President TAFT,
10 te!eg raphiug his regrets, said
II have been looking forward to TAX
ing part in the Goot Roads Congress
with y gfe2t deal Of pleasure because |
am il sympathy with the movement,
which is gaining sirength 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 farm
ers aod their families much more full
OF comfort and in the general benefit
conferred by greater ease Of inter-com-
municatiou the country over. cannot
be exaggerated. | wish | could be
present TO utter my approval and en-
enlargement. "
The Secretary OF Agriculture, James
Wilson, came, however, as the prcsl.
dents representative. and vas tue guest
Of honor at most OF the functions which
mad been planned for the president a
very elaborate luncheon by the Rich
mond Chamber OF Commerce was
,bandoued, however. IT Was to have
cost $4,000.
About 800 delegates settled down to
the first days work, much disappoint-
ed by the presidents absence, but en-
thusiastic for good roads throughout
the nation. One OF the objects of this
congress is to set afoot an organized
road building movement within the
states. No Federal aid is to be asked,
but each locality is to be stimulated to
share in n general plan.
The programme of the first session Of
the congress yesterday, in addition to
an AL trees by Secretary Wilson, ill.,
Guided welcome to the delegates by
Governor Mann, OF Virginia; addresses
by Senator's Martin aud Swanson, Lo-
gan w. Page, director Of the goud
roads Office OF the Department Of Ag-
riculture and president OF the Ameri.
can Association for the Highway I'M
provement, also spoke.
President w. w. Finley, Of the
Southern Railway; Representative John
Lamb, OF Virginia, chairman Of the
House committee on agriculture, and
Representative J. Hampton Moore. of
Pennsylvania. were also speakers.
Interest in the Congress is intense,
especially in the Southern states,
which have sent large delegations
Most of these come from localities
where local good roads ass ciations
have been formed. About 10 such or
CARNATIONS are represented in the
movement for the brtterment OF the
highways OF the south, 70 which this
congress will devote much OF ITS atten-
, ton.
Senator Martin, Of Virginia, d"cIarcI
him-cIf ~ favor OF a federal aprropIia-
ton OF At lca.t 800, 900 600 u year fer
road Improvement. Senator Swanson,
II VIRGINIA. and Senator Bankhead, Of
Ala"ama, who sat on the platform, IN
dicated their approval Senator Mar.
tin said he would favor cutting down
the rivers and harhors appropriation or
il necessary have the Treasury issue
bonds for the work. H pledged him
self to work for some sort Of plan n
the coming Con rcss and said IL. would
H. would ask I csidc:t Taft to touch
upon the subject in his message To
Congress.