The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-26


nance providing for the improvement;
CT Morris avenue was finally CON
firmed while other work of a similar
nature was handled.
The commission heard a request from
James W. Evans on behalf of the Ala
bama Great Southern railroad that tho
company be permitted to construct 4
new addition to the freight house on
Eighteenth street and Railroad ayenue
lie explained the details of the pro-
posed addition to the commissioners.
The weekly pay rolls were handled
and the usual routine. whereupon the
commission adjourned.
vote OF 240 to Sc. 1t failed in the SEN
ate.
I'VE will pass another good roads bill
through the House during this Congress.
When 1t goes TO the Senate 1t will be
referred to the committee on postoffices
and postroads, of which Senator Bank
head is chairman That he will nut IT
through the Senate let no man doubt.
TO the Alabama delegates present in
this convention let me call to mind the
passage of scripture which says: "A
prophet is not without honor save in his
own country | do not know how you
regard your state highway commissioners
but l do know that they are esteemed
by the friends of good roads In Wash
ington as among the most intelligent
practical. persistent and effective factors
In the good roads movement They have
given us much valuable assistance
Promoting good roads is advancing
civilization Generations yet unborn Will
bless you for your efforts"
Good Roads in Alaska
Mrs. s. r. Bernardo of Nome, Alaska,
was the next speaker and told of the
work that Is being done in that terri
| tory.
AN annual appropriation of 800 600 to
| $4,000 for roads in Alaska is made by
the military committees of the House and
Senate she said. They are designated
military and postroads and carried as
a charge against the support of the
army. Up TO date, about $50 miles of
wagon roads have been built.
''As an instance Of the commercial value
OF good roads to Alaskans, l will mention
| one road S.s miles long that has paid for
itself nearly eight times In six years.
This short road leads from Nome across
a marsh to the foot of Amber mountain,
where are located the Anvil mines, made
famous in Rex Beach's novel, The Spoil
| ers, and this road leads directly to the
| Bessie mine, where millions have been
| taken out, even though handicapped by
| water flowing into it from an UNDER
ground source.
zone hundred dollars worth of coal
| day is used to help pump this mine free
| of water. In 1900 freighters charged $40
! a ton for hauling over this 3,3 miles of
| trail. A horse often mired through three
| feet of slush to frozen terra firma. Since
| the building six years ago of this road the
| freight rate has been reduced from $40
| to s. and less.'
The Meridian Road
! Samuel Lea. state engineer of South Da-
kota, followed Mrs Bernardo. He spoke
on the Meridian road and explained what
was the purpose of this highway. The
Meridian highway starts in Winnipeg and
runs through the United States to the
gulf. 1t was built by those who were
| benefited by having such a road and
was without government aid. The length
| of the highway, said Mr.. Lea, is 22S5
miles The road showed conclusively, he
| said, the value of well designed, we'll
| located roads.
! E. j. Watson, commissioner of agricul-
ture of South Carolina. was then intro
duced and spoke briefly. He called at
| tention to the significance of the present
convention. He contrasted the figures of
| appropriations made by the general gov
ernment for various purposes. Fifty mil
| lions is paid by the south annually for
hauling cotton" he said. with good
roads the south could save s5oO,00ooo0
| every year. He cautioned against ex-
| pecting too much from the Panama canal
| as the ability to make use OF the benefits
would depend largely on good roads, he
said
| State Senator John w. Overton was then
| introduced and spoke briefly on The
Good Roads Movement in Alabama lie
| said that the Georgia roads were much
superior to the Alabama roads on ac-
| count of using convcts to build them.
! Reports were made by members of the
various state delegations and general
progress in the good roads movement was
| shown 1t was indicated that there was
concerted movement for good roads not
only in the south, but all over the United
States.
Constitution Adopted
! The report of the committee on consti-
tuition and bylaws was then made by
Thomas l.. Cannon. The report was
adopted after extended discussion of the
lvarious sections. The constitution OF the
association is as follows:
ARTICLE /.
| Section l. The name of this organization
shall be the United States Good Roads
association.
See2. This association shall be incor-
porated under the laws of Missouri
Sec 8. This association shall maintain
|
| by the board Of directors.
| Sec. 4. The board of directors shall es-
4 tablish and maintain bureau OF infor-
nation in Washington, d. c.
ARTICLE 2.
! Section /. The object of this association
| is to promote immediate federal leeisla-
| ton in behalf of an adequate system of
4 good roads; greater in Importance than
the construction of the Panama canal
! fraught with more benefcent results to
the republic of humanity. and demanded
| bv the people of the United States with
more unanimity and deeper desire than
| anything else presented to Congress.
| ARTICLE 3.
Section 1. ANY Individual, firm or cor
| poration is eligible for membership In the
! United States Good Roads association,
| subject to the approval of the vice pres
ident of the states: said membership shall
| consist of regular members who snail
| pay an annual membership fee OF 81, and
| sustaining members who shall pay SUCH
sums in excess of 81 as they agree.
| See . Membership shall commence from
| the date on which each membership is
signed and shall be in force for the Pc
riod of one year,
Sec. g. The annual dues for individual
members shall be ST.
Sec L. Any individual firm or corpora
| ton can pay for as many memberships
as desired at the rate of 81 per year, and
! each membership so purchased shall count
| as one vote on all questions coming be-
| fore the association.
! See s. Membership may be voted at
any meeting in person by the holder OF