The Washington times., 1913-03-06
URGES FEDERAL AID
IN WORK ON ROADS
Highway Question Is Most Am
portant in Country, Says
Congressman BorIand.
BY HARRY WARD.

Declaring the good roads question
Is the most important question con
fronting the American people, Congress
man William Borland, Of Missouri, to-
day set the delegates attending the Sec
cnd annual Federal aid good roads con-
vention into a frenzy of enthusiasm.
Congressman Borland gave many facts
and figures to support his argument
that the Federal Government should
aid in improving the country's high
ways.
The convention, which is being held
under the auspices of the American Au-
tomobile Association, convened this
morning at the Raleigh Hotel, delegates
from every State in the Union being
in attendance. The convention was
opened by Laurens Enos, of Buffalo,
president OF the American Automobile
Association, who outlined briefly the
purpose of the meeting. He then intro
duced George c. Diehl, OF Buffalo.
chairman of the good roads board OF
the three AS, as chairman OF the con-
vention.
Creates Laughter.
Congressman Peter G. Ten Eyck, OF
Albany, created much laughter when
he declared, eve are all here looking
for capital to take back home to i'm
rrove our highways" Other speakers
were Congressman ]. A. Goulden, OF
New York; Prof. H. J. Patterson, of the
Maryland Agricultural College faculty; !;
c. Gordon Reel, State superintendent
OF highways of New York.
The several hundred delegates were
presented this afternoon to President
Woodrow Wilson. whose counsin. John
A. Wilson. Is vice president Of the
American Automobile Association. The
White House visit was to have been
made this morning. but an unexpected
meeting of the Cabinet made II neces-
sary for President Wilson to defer the
reception until later in the day.
Members Of the American Automobile
Association. including Vice PRESIDENT
John A. Wilson. a cousin OF President
in Washington today. They are here
to attend the second Federal Aid GOOD
Roads Convention, which opens today In
the Raleigh Hotel The convention mas
been called by the Three AS. which has
invited all good roads bodies and all
associations interested In highway I'M
provements to participate.
At O'Clock.
The afternoon session will commence
at o'clock, and among those who are
expected to address the delegates are
Senator Jonathan Bourne. jr., chairman
Of the Joint Committee on Federal Aid
for the Sixty-second Congress; Con-
gresham Dorsey w. Shackleford. vice
chairman of the committee; Jean de
Pulligny, chief engineer of roads and
bridges of France: and Henry w. An
derson. of Richmond.
Logan Waller Page, director Of the
Office of Public Roads. will preside at
the evening session. A particularly in
teresting program has been outlined for
this session. In addition to a number Of
addressed by prominent good roads ad-
vocates, there will be an illustrated talk
by Thomas J. lyman. warden Of the
Colorado State penitentiary, who has
made a big success In the employment
Of convicts in road building. Warden
Tynan's talk will be illustrated by more
than 1900 feet Of moving pictures.
There will be two sessions tomorrow.
Among the prominent members OF the
American Automobile Association at
tending the convention. in addition to
Vice President Wilson are A. @.
Batchelder. chairman Of the executive
committee; George c. Diesl. chairman
Of the good roads board: and former
President Speare. of Boston.