The Detroit times., 1912-12-14
GOOD ROADS
CAMPAIGN HAS
new IMPULSE
Headquarters Are Opened at
Washington by the
Three AS
PURPOSE is FEDERAL
AID PROPAGANDA
Outlook for Next Convention is
Promising, Advises
Chairman

With the early opening OF headquar-
terG at Washington, ID. c., BY the
American Automobile association, the
campaign of the organized motorist
CT the United States Tor national roads
takes on new vigor and becomes cen
tered, properly, at the national capt
tai While the principal headquarters
OF the A. A. A. will remain in New
York, the associations policy OF pro-
noting the plan of road building by
the federal government has been
found to necesBitate such close and
constant touch with the various fed.
eral agencies involved, including the
Office of public roads OF the depart
ment 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 ex-
pedlted through the maintenance or
a permanent Washington Office.
Chairman George q. Diehl, OF the
A. A. A. national good roads board,
advises that the outlook for the ma
tional roads convention to be held In
Washington. March 8 and Z next, is
very promising indeed. Every mail
Is bringing announcements from every
part Of the country of the appointment
OF additional delegates TO this con-
vention, and it is already assured that
Il will be the most widely representa-
tive and nationally influential good
roads gathering that has yet been
held. A very encouraging feature OF
the convention preparations is the re-
markable interest that Ii. being dis
played in the national roads proposal
by the great bodies of the organized
business men who are at present more
active than ever before in the develop
ment of various sections OF the coun-
try Chambers of commerce and
boards of trade from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, and from the Lakes TO the
Gulf, are naming delegates, or have
announced their intention to do SO,
while it is now practically assured
that every state will be represented
by official delegates named by it's
governor.
I'm the eleven months that nave
elapsed since the first fed eral aid con-
vention was held at Washington. the
sentiment in favor OF national partici-
patton in highway construction has de-
veloped to point where there is no
longer any apparent opposition,
states Chairman Diehl. The only
question at issue is as to the form
which federal aid shall take. The
Gospel of good roads has become as
definite an American policy as the
right to vote, or trial by jury. No
arguments are needed anywhere TO
convince a farmer, business man, a
a merchant. or anyone
else of the essential Importance OF
good roads. The point TO which at
tention must be given now is how TO
get good roads. and the quickest and
best way to get them Is for the fed
eral government TO lay out and con.
struct a system of national roads con-
meeting all the states, providing q
medium for interstate traffic and fur
nlshing an object lesson to the states
as well as relieving them OF the bur
den OF improving the main travelled
routes"
The subject OF highway improve
ment will be the dominant one in
many state legislatures which are TO
meet next month. The suggestions
for a model highway law" and the
uniform automobile law" prepared
by the A. A. A. good roads and legis-
lative boards. are being studied in
many states by legislators and state
officials, and c0pies have been request
ed by several influential leaders who
are preparing TO make the fight in
their legislatures this winter for bet
ter road and motor laws. II Is the
Policy OF the A. A. A. to give every
possible aid and encouragement IN
the upbuilding of state highway sys-
tens, while at the same time actively
working for a system OF national
roads. which III bound to be developed
in the course OF time.