The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-15
PLANS CAMPAIGN
FOR GOOD ROADS
AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE AssocIA-
rroN TO OPEN HEADQUARTERS
IN WASHINGTON.
FEDERAL AID WORK
CHAIRMAN GEORGE IN. DIEHL AN
NoVNCEy OPENING OF CON-
yENTrOS IN CAPITAL
MARCH AND z.

With the early opening Of head
quarters at Washington, ID. g, os
the American Automobile associa-
ten. the campaign ef the ORGANIZED
motorists OF the United States Tor
national roaG@si takes on new ViSor ana
becomes conferred, properly, at the
national capital while the principal
headquarters OF the a A. A. Will re-
main in New York, the association
policy Of promoting the plan Of ROAD
building by the federal government
has been found to necessitate such
close and constant touch with the
various federal agencies involved IN
GLIDING the Office Of public roads Oh
the department OF agriculture, the
engineering corps of the United states
army. the department OF the interior
etc. that II is felt the work can be
greatly expedited through the main
tenance Of q permanent Washington
ONCE.
Chairman George c. Diehl Of the
A A. A national good roads board,
advises ~flat the outlook for the ma
fional roads convention to be held IN
Washington, March 6th and It'll next,
IN very promising. indeed. Every
mail Is bringing announcements from
every part OF the country Of the APP
pointment OF additional delegates to
this convention, and it is already as
sured that IL will he the most widely
representiye and nationally infiuen-
tiai good roads gathering that has
yet been held A Wy encouraging
feature Of the con sation prepart-
ticns IL the remarkable Interest that
ts being displayed ia the national
roads proposal by the great bodies
OF organized business men who are
at present more active than ever be-
fore In the development Of various
sections OF the country. Chambers OF
commerce and boards OF trade from
the Atlantic 10 the Pacific. ana from
the lakes to the gulf. are naming del
egates, or have announced theii In
tentton 10 do so, while 1t Is now prac~
ticaliy assured that every state viii
be represented by official delegates
named by its governor.
In the eleven months, that. have
elapsed since the FIRST federal aid
convention was held at Washington,
the sentiment in favor Of national
participation In highway cunstruc-
tlon has developed to "a point where
there tn mo longer amy APPARENT op'
position" states Chairman Diehl.
THE only question at issue Is as
TO the form which federal aid sha',
take. The Gospel of Good Roads
nAS become as uenHits an AHltf az All
policy as the right to vote. or trial
by jury. No arguments are needed
anywhere to convince a farmer. bus
mess man, ii manufacturer, mer-
chant, or any one else of the essen
tiai importance of good roads, The
point to which attention must bt
given now Is how to get good roads
and the quickest and best way TT ge'
them is for the federal government
to lay out and construct a system Oh
national roads connecting al this
States, providing medium for In
terstate traffic and furnishing an OBJ
ject lesson TO the States, as well as
relieving them Of the burden Of I'm
growing the main Travelled routes"
The subject OF highway improve
ment will be the dominant ons il
many State legislatures which are Il
meet next month. The Suggestion:
for Model Highway Law, and the
Uniform Automobile Law" pre- are,
by the A. A. A. good roads and ,,gis
iative boards are being studied il
many States by legislators and stat
officials, and copies have been request
ed by several influential leaders wh'
are preparing t. make the fight il
their legislatures this winter for bet
ter road and motor laws. II IL tn
policy OF the A. A. A. to give ever
possible aid and encouragement 4
the upbuildinE OF State highway sys
TENS. while at the same time active
iy working for system Of nationa
roads. which is bound to be develop
ed In the course of time.