The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-03-14
More Than 800 Men
Were in Attendance
at First Session
ENTHUSIASM GREAT
To Build State Highway from
Sioux Falls to Rapid City
is the Big Idea

Mitchell was swarmed down upon
today by one of the biggest and
most enthusiastic crowds of men
which has assembled here in a long
time. 1t was the Gathering OF men
for the Good Roads convention,
which had been called by the Nit
chell Commercial Club at the sug-
gestion of number of towns To-
Gated along the proposed route OF
the state highway road from Sioux
Falls and Mitchell TO Rapid City.
East Towns Well Represented.
The greatest enthusiasm prevails
among the representatives of the
towns located along the two routes
between Mitchell and Sioux Falls,
and which is the real bone of con-
tention in the convention. Emery,
Bridgewater, and Alexandria citizens
hired a special train over the Mil
Waukee road so that they could be
here in time for the beginning OF
the convention. They reached the
city about 10 O'Clock and there was
an enthusiastic crowd OF fully 300
andria band and they marched up
the street to the city hall.
With the arrival of the Omaha
passenger the towns of Hartford,
Humboldt, Montrose, Salem, Spencer
and Farmer sent in Il big delegation,
numbering fully 400 people. y big
band made up of musicians from
several of the towns headed the
delegation down town and one OF the
patriotic men in the crowd carried
a large flag to start the thing Off
right. After marching down to the
Milwaukee depot and back they went
to the city hall, where they were
greeted by their friends. the enemy,
from the south line Over 100 men
came in from the west. including
Chamberlain, Pukwana, Kmball,
White Lake, Plankinton and Mt.
Vernon.
On the rear wall of the stage
were the banners and maps OF the
two proposed routes of the road be
tween Mitchell and Sioux Falls which
were utilized in showing the advan-
J. A ha "a
hung on the wall stated that Emery
Bridgewater and Alexandria would
raise $1,000 for the highway Prac-
tically all of the seats on the lower
floor We're filled and a great man!
went into the gallery.
Secretary Silsby called the meet
ing to order and introduced Mayor
Hitchcock who gave the address O
welcome. The mayor spoke OF the
gathering as being one of the larges
that he had seen here in some time
and said that the automobile hat
been largely responsible for tn
building of the good roads, and tina
the oXcart would hardly bring ou
such vast number of men. He fel
that the good roads problem wa
time. and that with them there woul'
be Il great help not only to tn
farmer, but to the business and pre-
fessional man.
In the preliminary organizatio
John Stransky, of Pukwana, wa
made chairman, and Ben Wood wa
elected secretary. These men wer
selected as being outside the bount
aries of the contesting routes, an
that each would be given ia
show in the work of the convention
The temporary organization W.
later made permanent. Mr.. Stransk
tried to decline the honor, and lie
that man from a bigger town ougl
to be in the chair. This brought OF
of the delegates to his feet and sa.
that while Mr.. Stransky came fro
the smallest town on the route tn
he was the biggest man amor
them, which sentiment was applau
ed to the echo.
In the matter of delegates to t
convention there was a fear c
pressed among some of the delegat
from the various towns represent
that Mitchell and Sioux Falls h
slipped in quite large number
citizens who would overshadow I
rest, and prevent their getting il
tice done. Secretary Silsby stat
that Mitchell had sent ten delega'
to the convention, but that they h
no real desire to participate in