The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-10-01
HUNDREDS OF
GOOD ROADS BOOSTERS
Big Convention In Detroit, Attended
by Delegates from Some
Foreign Countries.

DETROIT, Mfch., Oct. L. More
than 5000 OF the nations road build.
ers from every section Of the United
States and Canada, as we'll as repre-
sentatives from countries across the
Atlantic are in Detroit today to par
ticipate In the third annual American
road congress, held under the ausp;
ces OF the American Highway Associ :
ton. the American Automobile AS
citation, and the Michigan State
Roads Association. TWEEN
auxiliary associations devoted [
improvement Of highways are ho,dins
their annual conventions In connection
with the road congress. Before the
end of the week, officials Of the CON
gress say, 10000 delegates and y.si-
tors will be here.
Great interest has been shown n
the address delivered by Secretary Of
Agriculture David Houston, represent
ing President Wilson. The secret Try
outlined the policy which the admin
istration probably will adopt this fall
In regard to the good roads move
ment. Officials OF the congress be-
| lieved 1t would include an announce-
| ment of tentative plan for the Civ
/ Ing OF national financial aid for the
actual construction OF highways. 1t
Is the first time since the construction
OF the famous Cumberland rold, over
a century ago, that the United States
government has actively participated
in road building.
Roads as the medium OF commerce,
as the connecting links between com
munities, as the means of social in
4 tercourse and as great influence for
the spread of civilization are being
! discussed during the week by the
country's experts. Among the speak.
ers are the heads of every state high
way department in the union, Or their
representatives. The exhibit ST road
making machinery. road materials
1 cement and bricks, and various Ge.
vices for road improvement, display.
ed on the second floor Of the Wavne
/ gardens, is an interesting sideline OF
4 the conventions. Thirty-five thousand
| square feet of floor space has been
| given over to this exposition and y
| percent of all the Industries identified
I, with road building or road mainten.
ance are represented. The bigges.
and most notable of the exhibits is
that conducted by the United States
/ government. Two series Of miniature
models Is shown in the development o.
4 road building from the early Roman
period to the present day The othe,'
series shows all modern types of road
such as sand-clay, gravel. macadam
brick and concrete Included N the
4 governments exhibits are models a,
4 bridges. culverts and drainage struc
4 lures, as well as electrically operated
models of rollers and crushers. The
government display is pronounced tn:
most complete road exhibit evel
made. The fight for the honor OF en-
J PERTAINING the road congress in its
i 1914 gathering started with the open
4 ing session when delegations from AT
lanta, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Den
J yer, Boston and Washington, c.
got busy to influence votes. The place
!, for next years meeting will be Sc
lected Saturday, on the closing ia,
OF the convention Early indications
were that either New Orleans or At
lanta would be favored.