The Harrison times., 1912-07-13
GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.
Arkansas, Missouri and Oklaho-
ma Represented at Monte
Ne.

at one time, The buildings and
grounds of this pleasant resort are
admirably adapted to summer con-
yer tionS, and the crowds were com
fortably taken care Of. The conven-
tion was considered a great success,
and a permanent organization was
formed, with Senator p. A. Rodgers,
of Gravette, at its head, and it was
decided to hold the convention at
the same place next year, the dates
to be announced later. Mr.. Jesse b,
Hawkes., of Harrison attended the
convention as Boone county'S dele
gate.
The important action of the con-
vention came to its close, when a
committee was created, composed OF
Messrs. Rodgers, Palmer, Harvey
and Lghton, with Instructions to
draft a bill to be presented to the
Arkansas legislature at its next scs-
sion, providing for State tax to
enable the State to aid the counties
in the construction of good high
ways, 1t is intended that this ac-
tion shall be supplemented by the
circulation Of petitions to be signed
BY the voters throughout the State
addressed to members of the lcgis.
lature, and that campaign of edu-
cation shall be started in the inter.
est of the good roads movement.
A resolution was adopted by the
convention favoring a national sys-
TEN of modern highways and asking
for an appropriation by Congress of
fifty million dollars year under the
constitutional provision for post
roodS, and in line with bills now be-
fore Congress on this subject. 1t
was pointed ont that the nation has
expended millions of dollars on riv.
ers and harborS and in naval appro.
priations, but has done practically
nothing in cause equally if not
more important to the welfare OF
the people in general, viz, good
roads
Mr.. Pritchard, the leader Of the
movement in Washington county,
stated that the history of road
building throughout the county had
shown that it was practically inn
possible for local communities to
construct highways without aid
from the State, and nearly all roads
that have been successfully built
have had State aid, This is the his.
tory of Virginia, New York, Massa.
chusettS and most of the eastern
States.
"The keynote Of the movement
says Col Harvey "is organization,
financing and construction" "The
two main points in road building
are drainage and grades, says Sen.
ator Rodgers, He said that in the
last five years seven million dollars
have been paid into the various
Arkansas county treasures under
the road tax law, and yet not u sim
sle mile of modern highway has
been constructed with the money
In locating roads the best grades
should be chosen with the least ex.
pcnsc of maintenance; and after u
choice is made with this rule in view
no deviation should be made, and if
it is necessary TO obtain land by
condemnation proceedings even that
should be done rather than choose q
less desirable route, 1t il about the
same distance straight up over II
hill that it il around it, 50 it is bet.
ter to 60 around The greatest mis-.
takes are made in road building in
failing to employ competent cngln'
GERS, and the system of working out
road tax is pronounced a failure,
Comparing the road system with
the schools, 1t was said that the
amount Of tax raised Is about the
same, but the results obtained are
much IN favor Of the schools, State,
county and district school superin.
tendents are provided for, and a
teacher is required 10 pass Nn cxNmi.
nation showing his qualifications
for teaching, Therefore there should
he State, county and district high
way superintendent and engineers,
and road builders should he skilled
in their work and he required 90
pass examinations ON the subject of
road building,
The letting of contracts for road
building was advocated, 60 the low.
est responsible bidder who should
give a bond aud enter into contract
to construct u hrst.eHss road, He'
eording 60 specifications, The CON
tractor II bound to speud at least
50 percent Of the money he receives
! In the community where the road IA
bullt, for labor, teams and supplies