The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1912-10-22

bonds, and showed his entire familiar
arity with this very important phase
of the good roads movement.
General Jacob S. Coxey. Of "Coxey's
Army" fame, was a picturesque figure
before the Congress when he deliver
ed an address on his march to Wash
ington with the "Commonweal Army
in 1894. He advocated the passage OF
good roads legislation by the Con
gress of the United States through
the issuance of non-interest bearing
bonds, and declared ~fervently that
such action would be a cure-all for the
present obstacles in the way of the
construction of good roads through.
out the entire nation. Mr.. Coxey pre-.
scented the writer with a printed copy
of his Good Roads and N%on-Interest
Bond" scheme. The treatise repre-.
sents a careful study of the subject
by the author and furnishes food for
serious thought. The General" was
greatly pleased to learn that the 'ini-
~tiative, referendum and recall were
at present holding a prominent place
in the minds of the people of Louis
lana.
A representative Of the organized
movement for Seeing America First
made an eloquent plea in behalf of a
National and State system of improv-
ed highways by which Americans
might be enabled to see and learn
the wonderful beauties of their own
country, by motor car, before going
across the ocean to spend their one
hundred and fifty million dollars an
nually.
And 1 think it proper to insert here
that one Of the most charming spots
to see in America il Richmond, Va,
the old Capitol of the Southern Con.
federacy. And if the tourist in addi.
ton to visiting this locality SO rich in
historic, scenic and architectural feat
ures, has the good fortune to fall into
the hands of that man in Richmond
who is known and loved by everybody
The First American Road Congress
was held in Richmond. Va. in the
year 1911. 1t had it's birth in the con-
viction that the time had come when
all of the agencies striving for the
common cause of road improvement
should work together to the end that
the experience of each and every
organization should be utilized as a
guide to the work Of each and every
other organization; and that in the
consideration of plans and policies
which were too broad to be determin-
ed by any single organization, there
should be a way by which the inter
ested parties could come together and
consider them; and. finally, that the
entire movement for better roads
should be systematized and placed on
the plane of earnest and efficient ef-
fort that the importance of the sub
ject demanded
The second American Road Con.
gress was held in Atlantic City, New
Jersey, Sept. 80. to Oct. s, 1912, and was
unique in the annals of the good roads
movement, according to MIR. Logan
Waller Page. Director Of the United
States once of Public Roads and
president of the American Road Con-
gress. Unique in the fact that it en-
listed the interest and support Of the
American Highway Association, the
American Automobile Association, the
National Association of Road Materi.
al and Machinery Manufacturers, the
American Bar Association, the Socie-
ty for the Promotion of Engineering
Education and the Bankers Associa-
tions in many States.
In his address Of welcome delivered
at the opening session of the Ameri.
can Road Congress in Atlantic City,
Gov. Woodrow Wilson aroused the
enthusiasm of the five hundred Off
cial delegates assembled there from
every section of the United States, by
not only placing himself on record as
being heartily in favor of the con.
struction Of good roads throughout
the nation, but of the extension OF
Federal aid in accomplishing this
work. This attitude was a source of
jubilation to the men wrestling with
the problem of reaching some plan
whereby the work of road building
may be facilitated; and not only the
State officials gathered there, but al
SO eminent engineers and representa-
tives of automobile associations
warmly congratulated Governor Will
son On his attitude at the close of his
address.