Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-08

The American Road Congress, which met last
week at Atlantic City was the most interesting and
fruitful convention ever held for the development of
this counrys highways Its distinctive feature was
the variety of interests it united in behalf of this
one important enterprise. 1t brought together good
roads workers from every quarter of the Union and
also representatives from the American Automobile
Association and from the National Association Of Ma
chinery and Material Manufacturers. Thus all the
camps of the good roads cause we're assembled and
organized the result will undoubtedly show itself in
more definite and speedy progress.
Within the past few years the demand for better
highways has become nationwide and has taken deep
root in the public mind. But until recently public
sentiment in this regard has lacked the unity and
direction that are essential to There have
been divers movements for roadway Improvement
There are nearly score of national associations de-
voted directly indirectly to this end and some Ue
hundred State or county or0dnisGtions all so0rking
for high0ay development in thsir particular terri
tory What cannot be accomplished If these numer-
Gus but now divergent streams of energy are har-
messed together for motive powerl
That is the design of the American Road Con-
gress and that was the significance of its recent
vention. The American Association for Highway
Improvement which is chief credit for making
this Congress possible. has announced the following
purposes:
ITO correlate and harmonize the efforts of all ex-
listing organizations working for road improvement"
ITO strive for wise equitable and uniform road
legislation in every State"
ITO aid in bringing about efficient road admins
tration in the States and their subdivisions involving
the introduction of skilled supervision and the elm
nation Of politics the management of the public
roads"
ITO advocate the correlation OF oil road constrGc-
tio so the important roads of each county shall
connect tOh those OF the adjoining counties and the
important roads Of each State shall connect t0ith
those Of the adjoining States"
1t is thus evident that the most progressive and
practical thought on roadway development centers
upon the idea Of organized and cooperative effort
Enthusiasm in this work is plenteous, but there is
vital need of directing popular sentiment through
definite channels in order that may accomplish due
results This must be done, If are to secure
federal aid for the good roads if the money
and labor which the individual States are now ex-
pending are to yield ample returns.
Because it has recognized and is acting upon this
essential truth the American Road Congress- uniting
as it does the energy of motorists. manufacturers,
farmers engineers and all others interested in good
roads, is of timely and far-reaching Importance
The need Of method and cooperation in the ma
tional field is equally essential in each State There
are more than fifty good roads associations Georgia
and a majority of the counties are active in this
enterprise But in order that these Individual efforts
may count for what they are WORTH there should be
a Statewide system under which all the counties
may cooperate; and to that end State Highway
Commission should be established.