The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-21
ROAD BUILDERS
GATHER IN DETROIT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING

All roads will lead to Detroit. Mich.
the last week in September, and
thither the road building tribes or all
the states will go up on the 2sth
day of the month to the third an
nual American Road congress. The
nrst congress was held al Richmond.
In November, 1911, and the second
was held at Atlantic City. New Jer-
sey, In October. 1913. The attendance
here was 1900 and the attendance IN
Atlantic City was 2,000. Calculating
upon the broad vision and great in
telligence and progressive spirit or the
West. and the very attractive hospi-
tally OF fbe Michigan people, there is
reason For anticipating the largest
assembly of road builders at Detroit
in September that has ever Deen
known in the history of the world.
Detroit has resolved to put the big
pot In the little one for this occasion.
The municipal authorities, aided by
the STATE. and the trades bodies ana
manufacturers and business men OF
the community are making prepara-
tions for the event or rather week OF
events, on a grand scale, and the
management of the congress lis ar
ranging for the congress, exniplts
which will touch the problem or GOOD
roads at every point, AS to construc-
ton, maintenance, materials. machin-
cry, financing and the rest or scien-
tific business.
The executive committee OF the
American Road congress are prepar-
ing an elaborate program for the
meeting at Detroit, and will take
part in the work of instruction at the
congress I'm September. Already
number of distinguished builders have
consented TO speak upon subjects or
absorbing interest, among them being
Colonel f.. A. stevens, State highway
commissioner of New Jersey, who VIII
describe the proper treatment OF
WORKOUT or travelled maeadam road
surfaces; Henry G. Shirley. State high
way engineer of Maryland, who viii
read a paper dealing with systematic
ing and simplifying the purchase Of
materials and equipment, State High
way Commissioner Wilson, OF virginia.
who will tell what he knows about the
labor question as 1t affects road con-
struction State Highway Commits
sioner Hurst. of Wisconsin. whose text
will be the structure of drains FOR
highways, and state Highway En-
gineer Keller, Of Alabama. who will
{ tell how fe care for unsgrfaced roads.
Al
United State Civil Service commits
sion, will deliver an address on the
merit system IN road administration.
and other men Of national distinction
will discuss various important ques-
lions relating to practical matters con-
nected with highway work in prac-
teal way, apd with object lessons that
will impress the people attending the
congress with the vast interests in
volved.
Among the exhihlts--for the con-
gress will be good road exposition
as well IS university of highway In
struction--there will be model exhi-
bits. under the direction of the United
States Office OF Public roads. every
style Of street and road surfacing, APP
Irovad TyTJgs Or frtEnwEv- bridges and
cuiverts specimen exhibits of road
construction from a reproduction Of
the Appian way down to the latest
thing in approved road construction.
IL is expected that the president
will attend the congress at Detroit
He believes in good roads, and has
expressed himself with ne uncertain
sound "a TO the relation which the
government should occupy towards
this work, and IL Is expected also that
several IT his cabinet advisers. sena-
tors. representatives and governors. as
well as men OF large affairs from all
parts OF the country, will he present
to help .hs movement along.