Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-31
SPEAKERS FAVOR
BOND ISSUE TO
IMPROVE ROADS
Cause of Better Highways in
County Furthered at Meet
ing at Illinois.
EDENS POINTS OUT NEED
Resolutions Adopted Urging coopers-
ton in Pulling Illinois Out Of
Mud" April IS.

The Rock Island County Highway
Improvement association closed the
first good roads day meeting ever held
under its auspices yesterday after
room al the Illinois theatre by adopt
ing resolutions pledging its support to
the Illinois good roads day announced
b. Governor Dunno for April Is.
W G. Edens. a Chicago banker and
president OF the Illinois State Highway
association, a joint speaker with ice
J. Long. OF Des Noines. at the meet
ing. asked the farmers for an endorse
ment q the good roads committee OF
the Illinois State Bankers association.
which is carrying the fight for the road
drag bill through congressman and
representatives.
Phil Mitchell. president OF the Rock
Island County Highway Improvement
association. presiding at the meeting.
stated concisely what 100000
bond issue by the county for the i'm
provement OF I3I miles OF road would
mean. 4. z. Nissen. field secretary
o. the Iowa State Auto association.
spoke 10 minutes urging that the bond
issue be voted and s. ". Searle. also
spoke in commendstion.
Other States Lead Us.
The states Of Indiana. Iowa. Kansas
and Missouri have all surpassed Illi-
nois In the improvement OF their roads,
Dir. Edens told mis- audience. There
was time when Indiana roads were
the worst known in the middle United
States. In the seventies there was an
ineessant migration to Kansas to find |
better roads. Now. however. Indiana
has advanced in road improvement |
and Illinois has lain in a dormant I.
state. Mr.. Edens said this state was
superior 20 many in the condition OF 4
its roads. but he added there was lack I
Of cooperation in all good road meas !
ures
There are good roads in IL Of the /
northern counties of the state. Re /
Gently Winnebago county. which had .
ben backward. voted to improve it's
roads That county Will support all
good roads legislation. In Cook coun-
" there are 1900 miles OF country
roads in good condition
Reference to the Tice road law was
made By Mr.. Edens. Its provisions for
the county TO pay so per cent and the
state the remainder toward the i'm
provement Of roads was held to be a
boom.
In Ohio $50 miles Of brick road have
been built II cost $4,000 a mile, and
IS the most artistic 10 be found The
speaker rldiculed the argument that
hard roads hurt horses feet. He al
legged such petty differences as to the
Kind Of roads 20 be built often halted
actual construction Indefinitely.
Bond issues for the improvements Of
roads are a good thing. the speaker
said. In Cook county a s2,O00.O00
bond issue was voted and in WayTs
county. Michigan. 81 900 900 was raised
Tor the building OF better roads. II
Nissen Scores Cheap Skates"
Mr.. Nissen urged that members of
me Rock Island Highway Improve
ment association pay their dues and
De members in reality. There are !
100 many cheap skates trying TO boost
good roads They do a lot OF talking
ana that's all" He was called on a
second time and spoke five minutes
touching on the 81 900. 900 bond issue !
n support OF Mr.. MitchelTs sugges-
lions.
s. ". Scare told OF the fight being
made in the county through the press
ne asserted that out townships ,,
'side from Rock Island and NOME,
pad 10000 a year for the improve ,
nent OF roads. Considering cost and
'esuits he held Il would be a paying .
'fopositiOn 70 issue bonds
A committee on resolutions com
'osed Of II. J. Gripp. Rev. A G. Ste
'art and Devore y. Simonson. ap-
'ointed by Nr. Mitchell at the opening
the meeting. reported at the close.
ne resolutions which were addressed
David Houston. secretary OF agricul-
1re, were as follows:
whereas. Governor Dunno has des- I
snated April Is as a good roads day ,
the state OF Illinois, therefore be I
Resolved. by the members Of the
och Island County Highway Improve l
lent association. that they express II