The Detroit times., 1913-10-02
HOBO ATTENDS
CONVENTION TO
ASK GOOD ROADS
Says" Wandering Willies" Need
Them as Much as Men Who
Own Autos
HIGHWAYS OF EVERY
KIND ARE DISCUSSED
Wide Tires on Vehicles Adv0cat-
ed as Means Of Road
Preservation

TO most people. q road Is road
aud whether 1t be paved with crushed
stone or macadam or brick or con-
crete is largely matter OF how much
money the community has to spend.
But the r0ad-builder knows that 4
road must be paved according 10 its
traffic.
Every sort of road was discussed In
the Wednesday morning session OF
the American Road congress, In the
Wayne Gardens. from the unsurfaced
or dirt road, which w. s. Keller, state
highway engineer Of Alabama, said
has been the problem OF his state
since they were laid out in Andrew
Jackson's day, to the brick pavements
which have recently been laid In the
country about Cleveland, and are the
pride OF James M. McCleary, engineer
of Cuyah0ga county.
Because the program was long,
speeches were limited to Ave minutes,
and many An enthusias: was raped
down by A. s. JoEnson, highway CON-
missioner of Illinois, who presided In
the absence of Col e. A. Stevens,
highway commissioned Of New Jersey.
The dirt road discussion aroused q
great deal Of interest because most
Of the highways of the country arc
still dirt roads. Mr.. keller advocated
the frequent use Of the drag, an in
strument scOrned, he said, because 1t
Is not nightly painted and highly al
vertised, but a very effect tive tool ia
the hands Of the farmer George w.
1,tuh or ~
sofa, told OF the Improvement secured
by the frequent use Of the drag In
that state.
JEFF Davis Heard From.
At this point a young man arose
and announced that he was Jeff Davis,
president Of the International timer
ant Workers UNION. letter known as
the Hobocs. s;r pavts said tia; hc
had arrived By L de-door Pullman,
from Indianapolis, Wednesday rom.
Ing. to further the cause Of good
roads.
THE hobo who walks from town to
town feels the need Of good roads as
much as the man who drives an auto"
said Mr. Davis. 81 represent an or
der OF SOC ,0C0 members, and l would
like to be seated as = delegate to this
congress-"
Mir Davis was given a seat. To re-
porters, he explained that the hobo e
not q tramp. Far from 1t. The hobo
wants to work, but had a hard time,
as q rule, finding a Job. The building
Of national highways, he believed.
would give the itinerant workers a
chance to earn money. I'VE demand
justice, not charity" is the motto OF
the hoboes. Mr.. Davis appeared none
the worse from his ride on the blina
be ggage of Big Four train. He car
ried his baggage In q newspaper roll.
He appeared at the convention wash
ed and barbered, and were I, not ror
his rising-sun button with the motto
OF his order, his distinguished identity
might have passed unnoticed.
Most OF our great men have been
hobces," explained Mr.. Davis. Co
lumbus was a hobo; so were all the
great navigators. The object OF our
order Is to secure living for our
members and to keep them out OF
trouble"
Mr.. Davis intends to take trip
In Canada, then proceed to Chicago,
end then depart for Seattle. As the
weather Is growing too cold Tor COM
fort on the blind baggage, he intends
to buy an overcoat very soon.
Wide Tires Advocated.
The convention took up the subject
of the necessity of legislation de-
handing wide tires on vehicles. as
means for MISREPRESENTATION. Many
speakers insisted that q buggy can
do more harm than any other vehicle,
because of It's narrow tires.
8. Percy Hooker, state superinten-
dent OF highways of New Hampshire.
took up the subject Of gravel roads.
He insisted that a gravel road, con-
Meeting higher types OF roads, can be
maintained for 5000 mile, annually.
There's no sense In spending $12,-
900 to $4,000 mile on roads that can
be built, for all practical purposes. for
$4,000 to $4,000 q mile" he declared.
1.-THE agitation for the best type OF
roads Is due to the Automobiles.
When the auto first began to be used.
they would have been tickled to death
with gravel roads"
As Col. Stevens was absent, his
paper ON the treatment Of WORKOUT
macadam eurfaces was not read