Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-27
Trans-Mississippi Body in
Session at Salt Lake
City.
GOOD ROADS FEATURE
Improve Highways to Lead Peo-
pie From Cities to the
Fresh Open Air.

Salt Lake City, Aug. 27-The annual
session Of the Trans Mississippi Com
mercial congress opened today. Top |
ics dealing with the further advance
ment and development of the re-
sources OF me western stetes will be
discussed. The See America First"
movement will be prominent
A. G. Trumbo OF Muskogee, Okla,
president OF the congress, in his ad-
dress 70 delegates, delivered an ex-
haustive review of the history of the
organization and recommended action
under the following headings:
Currency Reform-The details OF
the proposed plan OF the national
monetary commission will be present
ed here, and IL is hoped this congress
after full discussion OF the subject
without prejudice will go on record
favoring the proposed plan or suggest
ing some other plan better suited to
the present needs OF the nation.
FIRES FROM CARELEsSNEsS.
Fire Waste-This congress at its
last session in Kansas City appointed
committee TO carefully investigate
the subject of fire waste. The chair
man Of that committee advises me
that in 1911 the fire waste in the
United States amounted TO $250,00O,-
600. equal in amount TO the road
waste.
The United States geological sur
vcy estimates that fully so per cent OF
these losses are FROM .carelessness
and incendiarism.
Good Roads-Good country roads
will lead many people from the con-
Eostcd cities to the fresh open air
and sunshine. and since the coming
Of the automobile and electric lines
they will permit people to enjoy a
school life. a church life and a social
life equal to that in the city. The
lonosomeness Of country life has led
many away from 1t. and unless some
thing is done TO remove this greatest
curse OF country life. the nation at
large will suffer, and especially the
great west.
FOR FLOOD PREVENTION.
Reclamation by Drainage and Flood
Prevention-On account OF the enor-
nous loss Of property along the Mis-
Rissippi river and some of its tribu-
taries last year in the food and over
flow districts. one of the very impor-
taut measures to be discussed here
this week Is flood prevention by drain
age or storage Members OF this con-
Rrcss from Louisiana and other states
most largely interested should present
plans for the consideration Of this or
Eanization in the hope that a national
drainage act will solve the problem
which is OF more than mere local sig
nifcance.
"lrrigation.-In the early sessions OF
this congress the subject of irrigation
received great attention each year. not.
ably az the meetings in the inter-moun-
tain states-especially at ogden.
Through the direct influence OF this
congress and the cooperation of its
members likely to receive the greatest
benefits. We now have the national ir
Jigat!on act. Under this act many mil
lions OF dollars have been spent and
many more millions will be spent In
telligent direction. wise and econom
zeal distribution OF the appropriations
will. through the influence OF this body
and the special irrigation congress, re
feet great credit upon the originatorS
and accomplish much good TO a CRATE
fdl people.
ANTI-BLUE SKY LAW.
"Anu-Blue Sky Lava new west
cru idea born in Kansas and adopteC
in slight measure In several states
especially Texas. Oklahoma, Iowa ant
Arizona, deserves recognition. II &
the auti-blus sky law.
See America First.-Travel Il
America means money in the pocket
Of hotel men. merchants. newspapers
magazines. railroads, banks, trolle
lines. pleasure resorts. and manufaC
turcrs OF motor cars. II means cor
tnuaily better wagon roads, better SCI
vice 10 the travelling public, larger cor
sumption OF home products. more bus
ness for real estate men, bankers an
professional men, more profit to III
farmer. more American homes. NOR
loyalty 20 the stars and stripes-an
greatest Of ALL more fervent and Il
tense patriotism without the artifcis
stimulus Of war"