Evening journal., 1914-07-20
Governor URGES
GOOD ROAD Plan
In Laurel Speech Executive
Points Out Value of I'M
proved Highways
SUSSEX COUNTIANS
WILL KEEP UP FIGHT

The gathering was the elimination I
OF o largely attended meeting held !
here six weeks ago. when the Della |
ware Good Roads Association of Sus-
sex County was organized with the
following officers President. Will
liam IL. Cook; vice-president, Colonel
S. ID. Marvil; secretary, Arthur S.
Hearn: treasurer DR.. w. r. Jones.
The object of the Good Roads AS
sociation is to support for legislative
positions only those who are pledged
10 road building and to educate peo-
pie to understand and to appreciate
the necessity of good roads. The
association is otherwise nOn-partisan.
Saturdays exercises began when
the Old Point express train arrived,
bringing Governor Miller and many
men of prominence from the upper
part of the State. The guests were
met by Col. S. ID. Marvil Ernest Pur-
nell and William II. Cook After
band concert in front of the Laurel
House the gathering proceeded to
Walters Theatre, which was packed,
Notwithstanding the intense heat.
President Cook called the meeting to
order and introduced Mayor William
r. Valiant, who came to Laurel from
Church Hill, Md. a few years ago
The mayor extended a warm well
come to the assemblage. He then in
troduced the Hon. James Osborne
Adams, a former Representative of
the Maryland Legislature. as perma-
nent chairman. Mr. Adams spoke
upon the advantages of good roads
He referred briefly to the great bene-
fit Marylanders already have derived
from their roads system. Mr.. Adams
then introduced Governor Miller. who
delivered one of the most enthusi-
astic speeches of his career The
Governor was frequently and vocifer-
ously applauded The Governor said:
knowing that 1900 years ago
Julius Caesar saw the necessity of
good roads, we know the question is
no less important in the time in
which We live. I was in Boston last
Friday and rode over the city in an
automobile. | found the condition Of
the city very much changed from a
year ago. as they had elected a new
mayor who is trying to economize.
The city has taken off the dump
wagons and the men who took care of
the streets. This may be a saving at
present, but in years to come they
will find that il is a loss instead Of
! a benefit On the twenty-second OF
/ August, 1918, I attended the first
good roads meeting at Rehoboth
and the fact that you are having
I meeting of this kind here at Laurel
this afternoon indicates that the peo-
pie are fully alive to the necessity
and advantages of good roads.
During the past nine years down
10 the present time, we have spent
one million five hundred thousand dol
lars in Delaware for the construction
Of good roads. Four hundred thou
sand dollars OF this came from New
Castle county.
1t Is unnecessary to build good
roads unless you maintain and keep
them in proper shape. The traveller
through Europe today can see most
excellent roads which were built
prior to the Christian era. If good
roads were necessary thousands Of
years ago. they are two thousand
times more important today. Some
people may think that good roads
are of more benefit to the automobile
list than to the farmer, but the man
who is able to ride in an automobile
is able to ride six miles out of his
way TO reach a good road, where il
would mean time and money to the
farmer TO do likewise. l am not an
authority on good roads. but my
friend Hon. Walter B. Miller is. and
] beseech you to pay close attention
to what he has to tell you. I deeply
regret that / will not have the pleas
urc Of hearing him, but it is necessary
that 1 leave, as have an engagement
to meet Vice-President Marshall in
Wilmington at Z o'clock this even
ing"
Hon. Walter B. Miller. of Salisbury
Nd, followed in a convincing speech.
It will be recalled that during the last
session OF the Delaware Legislature
he appeared before the law makers in
advocacy of the construction Of the
dupont Boulevard He is road COM
missioner of Maryland and is an au-
thority on highway construction.
Charles w. Cullen, of Georgetown
was the final speaker. He appealed
for the systematic building of roads
and urged the cessation OF useless
patch work thruout Sussex county
He explained how good roads would
increase the value of farm lands gen.
orally, and add to the prosperity of the
various towns.
State Senator Harvey Cooper. ol
Denton, Md, was to have spoken, but
/, he sent message announcing that he
was i'll in bed.
Maryland Governors Message.
The telegram received from Cover
nor Goldsborough was dated Annapo.
lis, Md. and addressed to Colonel
Simon Marvil. IL follows
Regret official business detains ms
at Annapolis today Am greatly in.
A., terested in road building and would
have appreciated the privilege o
! having spoken to your people on this
! vital topic. The cry of Back to tn,
Land" is no longer a mere sentiment
Il is an actuality, and no one meas
= ure will help more to keep It so thar
the construction OF modern stat,
S highways. There follows improve
ment Of soil, better class farm houses
school houses, churches and socia
centers' buildings. Above all, thu
= young boys and girls are more con
D tent to stay upon the land because tn,
{ isolation OF country life is largely re
D moved and the opportunity of socia
! association is greatly promoted.
r trust that your meeting may give
great impetus to road building II
Sussex county
While Chairman Adams was max
{ ign his Introductory address. IA