The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-08-20
HIGHWAYS DISCUSSED At.
TEXAS GOOD ROADS Meeting
State Department Of Highways Urged,
and Needs of Texas for Public
Thoroughfares, the Theme.

College Station, Tex.-Urgent neces-
sity for a well-planned state highway
department, thoroughly correlated with
the county highway departments and
affording continuity of effort, was ex-
pressed at the closing session of the
joint meeting between the County
Judges and Commissioners AsSoCia'
ton and the Texas Roads Association
at the A and M. College Friday.
A. N. Johnson Of New York City,
chief of the bureau of municipal re-
search, and George Marshall, office of
public roads, federal department, with
headquarters at the A. and NJ. College,
told Of the highway departments of
other states, explained the operations
of those departments and described
the need which exists in Texas today
for such departments.
At the conclusion of their talks,
President J. w. Warren of the Good
Roads Association read the bill intro.
duced in the house of the Thirty
fourth legislature by Messrs. Savage
and Tillotson, providing for the crea-
ton Of the highway department, and
for the appointment of q state high
way engineer.
The two associations pledged their
support to the passage Of this amend
ment and INCREASED the committee ap-
pointed at the last session to frame
bill by adding the names of c.. U.
Mcdowell of Houston and B. K. Cogh-
Ian of the A. and NJ. College highway
department to the committee.
At the conclusion of Fridays ses-
sion the associations adjourned until
their midwinter meetings
At the meeting the commissioners
and judges entered into full discus
sion of all phases of problems which
come before the county commissioners
court. On each question discussion
was lively.
Should highway engineer or COM
petent county road superintendent be
employed by their counties when only
the road and bridge fund is to be ex-
pended?" drew rapid-fire discussion.
Judge Maloney of Brazos county, Com
missioner Roberts of Limestone, Judge
Bradley of Limestone, Judge Temple
ton Of Parker, Judge Beauchamp Of
Lamar, Judge Gibson of Rusk, Com
missioner Corey of Frio, Commission
er Smith of McLennan, Judge King of
Shackleford and c. o. Payne were
among those who discussed this ques-
ton.
It was generally agreed that the ap-
pointment of high-grade engineer,
where the expenditure is sufficient to
warrant, is the proper action. Judge
Beach of Lamar led the discussion on
"Are Special Road Laws Advisable?"
Judge J. M, Tidwell led a very in
teresting discussion on use of convict
labor on the public roads.
BY special request, R. ]. Windrow,
county engineer of McLennan coun.
ty, discussed the system Of road main
tenance which has been adopted by
his county and which has been adopt
ed as the standard by the office of
public roads, United States depart
ment, and printed in bulletin form.
J.P. Nash of the bureau of economic
geology at the University of Texas
gave an interesting discussion of road
materials that are to be found in
Texas.
The work of the Texas Federation
of Womens Clubs in behalf of good
roads was explained by Mrs. March
GILMORE of Houston. Mrs. Culmore
discussed why Women Want Good
Roads"