The Van Buren press., 1912-02-24
GOOD ROADS MEN
HOLD MEETING
Enthusiastic Boosters OF Pro-
gress Discuss New
Plans.
FINANCE A BIG HINDRANCE
Meetoine Is Addressed by Many
Prominent Men-Good AdlVce by
Government Experts.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Little ROCk-The Good Roads and
Drainage Association of Arkansas has
adjourned after the most enthusiastic
meeting since its organization About
five hundred were in attendance.
The most discussed phases of the
road question were finance and poll
tics these being the greatest hinder
ances to the movement.
Men prominent in state and local
affairs, government experts and yisl-
ors from other states addressed the
convention, the theme Of all talks
being the support of all plans OF IL
nance and improvement.
The delegates were welcomed to
Little Rock by Mayor Charles f. Tay-
lor and Assistant Attorney General
w. n Rector. who acted for the gov
ernor who was absent from the city.
Mayor Taylor in his address advocat'
ed the issuing of bonds for city i'm
provements and urged that all dele
gates support the movement. Mt
Rector in his address advocated the
repeal OF the present road laws ana
the adoption of a uniform law as the
present laws were not general, con-
fusing and understood by no one
Judge u. f. Cook, delegate from
Chicot county, in speech before the
association. said that while he had
been building dirt roads he did not
advocate them as he was only build
Ing them out Of necessity and not
from choice, the reason being that
his county was in the low lands and
material being distant the expense
was so high as to be prohibitive. lie
declared convict labor was not prot
table to the smaller counties as 1t
was to the larger ones, to remedy TINS
condition, however, he advocated the
leasing of convicts in humane man
ner and the proceeds to so to good
road building.
Former Congressman S. Brundidge
OF Searcy, spoke on the subject Ma
tional Aid to Good Roads He de-
clared that the United States Supreme
Court has held that the federal gov
ernment has the authority TO appro-
pirate money to aid in the construc-
ton Of highways that will promote
commerce between the states and that
II rests with the representatives OF
the people in congress to secure the
aid OF the government,
Charles b. Light, field secretary OF
the American association for high
way Improvement urged the I'M
portance Of ograni2ing live good road
associations in every county, Speak
ing OF the practical work Of road
building, MIR. Light said that drain
age Is undoubtedly one OF the most
important things to be considered,
Mr.. Light also urged the adoption Of
the road drag as a road builder. In
speaking of 1t he said;
when you have road drag In use
for every two miles Of road In Ark
ansas, used at the right time and by
a man who knows how to use 1t, Ark.
ansas will have the best system Of
roads Of any state in the union he
said, mo county in the United states
has this system OF drag for every
two miles OF road lust because II ID
30 simple"
w. H. (Coin) Harvey, Of Monte Ne,
agitator OF the great white Way
urged the delegates to 80 home and
advocate the election Of Good Road
mon to the legislature, In speaking
Of the road tax In Benton county he
said the money had been practically
wasted az not n single mile OF perma'
nent road had been built with the In.
come
r. c. pritchard OF Fayetteville,
president OF the Washington County
Good Roads Association, declared that
he believes the only solution OF the
good roads problem is to permit coun'
ties to issue bonds for their construc'
ton, 1--WE can borrow money enough
10 build good roads all over Washing
ton county and our thrce'mIll tax Will
pay the interest, provide n fund for
tho maintenance Of the roads and ere.
atc u sinking fund which will pay of
the bonds In 40 years he said, "Why
not get the roads now and pay for
them during the years that they Will
be used2 They viii be used by sew
eral generations TO come We want
the roads and we must have them"
y, II. Buroll, government expert
gave some interesting figures on the
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