The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-06-08
Summer Sessions of Development
Workers Are Opened This
Morning.
ATTORNEY E. E. M'DONALD
ADVOCATES BEMIDJI HIGHWAY
Outlines Proposed Routes of the Jef-
ferson Highway and Advan-
vantages of Each.
(By Special Correspondent

wa
Hibbing, Mimi, June S.-Hun-
dreds of delegates, farmers, business
men and professional men, from all
sections of Northern Minnesota are
here today to attend the summer ses-
sions of the Northern Minnesota De-
velopment association.
This "richest village in the world"
today extended glad hand of well
come to the delegates through it's
mayor, Victor l.. Power.
This morning the delegates were
registered and were given badges.
Committees escorted the visitors to
the convention hall in automobiles.
Middleton Presides.
1t was shortly before eleven o'clock
when President G.. r. Middleton of
Baudette called the meeting to order
Rev J. B. A. Idstrom of Hibbing de-
livered the invocation. Mayor Vic
tor L. Power delivered the address of
welcome and President Middleton re-
sponded to it fittingly.
l.. A. ROssman, associate publisher
of the Herald-Review at Grand Rap
ids, Minn., gave an address on
"Working Together for Develop
ment." He pointed out the theory
of organization that could best be ap-
piled to Northern Minnesota.
DR.. e. Dana Durand, chief of the
division of agricultural economics at
the University of Minnesota, gave an
address on "The Study of Rural
Credits in Minnesota" He told of
what is being done toward the solu-
tion of the peculiar credit problem
that exists in Northern Minnesota.
Would Develop State.
Attorney E. E. Mcdonald of Be-
midji in an able address this after
noon told Of the "Automobile High
ways in the State' He told of the
Jefferson Highway project and ex-
planned why the route through Be-
midi would do more for the develop
ment Of Northern Minnesota than
other routes. His address was as
follows:
The subject of my address might
suggest that there were highways in
this state distinctively for automobile
use, and I feel that the good commit
tee that selected this subject for me
to speak upon desire that I should
devote most of my time to those roads
which are distinctively automobile
highways. But I cannot let'this Op-
portunity to refer to the general use
of all highways by automobiles pass
without calling your attention to the
fact that the citizens of Minnesota
today are demanding that all high
ways shall, with the greatest possible
haste, become automobile highways.
There was time when those resid-
ing along and using common high
ways regretted the appearance of the
automobile thereon.
Times Have Changed.
But that condition. has changed
and we have reached a point where
not only is the automobile welcomed
upon all highways but it is now in
demand, universally, that all high
ways shall be put in automobile con-
dition. So that it would be proper
for me now to speak of all highways
in this state, because the highway is
indeed poor, obscure and in de-
serted place that does not bear up
on it's surface each several autOmo.
biles.
Returning to what I might we'll des
ignate as distinctive automobile high
ways, I will ask your pardon for re-
ferring briefly to the history Of
highways in this country.
Territorial Roads.
AS I enter upon this matter, the
minds of many of you go back tt
the territorial roads, the trails, tht
state roads, the government roads
in this state Then as the territory
became settled, there was added wha
is known as the system of toW1
roads. There was adopted the pla1
of state aid to public highways. Tho
town system has its many good feat
ures. 1t was in many instances
abused The county system has it:
many good features and in time ant
instances that system became abused
It seemed to be necessary that the
state should, by it's financial assist
ance a we'll as general supervision
come to the rescue of the matter O.
constructing and maintaining high
ways in this state.
You are all aware of the fact tina