The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-14
TO PLACE PART
OF ROAD BUILDING
ON whole STATE.
General Aid in Highway Con-
StructiOn Is Plan.
Speakers Support Idea at Din
ner Here Last Night.
PLACE CANDIDATES ON RECORD
Legislative Aspirants Must Be
Friends of Amendment.
Enthusiasm at Convention Ban
quet in Topeka.

Submission of an amendment to the
state constitution providing for state
aid in building permanent highways,
and enactment of a bill at the next
legislature taking away the heavy ex-
pense of building permanent highways
from adjacent farmers and placing the
expense evenly on all the people, We're
the keynotes of a dozen speakers at
a good roads meeting at the Topeka
Commercial club Wednesday night.
Fully half a hundred good roads
boosters from all parts of Kansas were
present to enjoy the hospitality of the
Topeka Commercial club.
Members of the 365 Days a Year
Roads club and the Kansas Good
Roads association will place cand1-
dates for the legislature on record on
Following is list Of p~ positions
upon which the candidates will be
asked to express their sentiments:
The Propositions.
Constitutional amendment permit
ting state to build roads. laws provid
ing for permanent road construction.
laws providing adequate maintenance
for dirt roads. revision of present road
laws, law allowing use of convict labor
on public roads, creation Of state
highway engineer to supervise road
construction and maintenance.
While the constitutional amendment
is under fire. John c. Nicholson of
Newton, has plan, submitted at tha
meeting, which will make it possible
for the state to supervise the building
of roads. Such a plan probably will
be drawn up into a bill for enactment
by the state legislature.
Nicholson would create a state high
way engineer, appointed by the high
way commission who would serve
without pay to act as a general man
10 nj
manager would supervise all county
road construction. At the request OF
the county commissioners the general
manager will furnish plans and spe-
cifications :or roads and bridge con-
struction. He shall have control Of
all road construction and maintenance
in districts benefitting by the federal
appropriation. 1t is absolutely neces-
sary that he have control of the road
construction carried on with the fed
eral appropriation. otherwise, Kan
sas will not get any of the 50, 600
for use in constructing permanent
roads.
Cor Road Master.
"A county superintendent. or road
master. would be appointed to enforce
the maintenance of permanent roads
oI1ce constructed. In some counties
such an officer would not find it nee
essafy to work all the time. Mr.
Nicholson would permit the township
hood roads.
Every phase of the road business
was discussed by the speakers. Some
told of the deplorable methods pur-
slied in building roads now. Others
took a slam at the close Kansas legis-
lature, which advertises Kansas as
badly as other situations advertise
her as a progressive state. The I'M
fairness of the Hodges law which
throws too much expense on the
Benefited farmers was discussed.
The enthusiasm of New York farm
ers for good roads was told by George
A. Kicker. former assistant state high
way commissioner of New York. At
one time the farmers in New York
fought good roads legislation bitterly.
Mr.. Kicker declared. He admitted that
New York had made mistakes in
biilding roads but declared that Kan
sas could gain by noting the big
states errors. Among the speakers
We're: Earl Akers. state treasurer;
Mayor o H. Bentley. Wichita
Charles NJ. Harger, Abilene; r. Il.
Peak. Kansas City; Robert Stone. To-
pel1a; ]. T. Botkin, Topeka; J. Frank
Smith. Pleasanton; Frank Gable.
lansing. and Captain Phillips, Dover.
Frank T.. MacLennan presided at the
dinner