Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-05
STATE ROADbU|LDERS
HOLD CONFERENCE HERE
Nearly Every State Represented in
Important National
Gathering.
MAYOR WELCOMES VISITORS
President Coleman's Report Deals
With War Problems and How
They Have Emphasized Need for
system OF National Highways.

With the largest attendance in it's
history the annual convention of the
American Association OF state Highway
Officials convened at 10 O'Clock yester-
day morning at the jefferson Hotel.
About 200 delegates were present TO
open the business OF the most mo-
mentous meeting i'll the history OF The
organization.
After brief address OF welcome
WAS made by Mayor Ainslic. the primci-
pal speech OF the day WAS made by
George =. Coleman, State Highway
Commissioner OF Virginia and president
OF the national association.
Following this annual address made
by the president of the association
short speeches were made by w. u.
Uhler. of Pennsylvania; 5. L. Brad,. OF
Illinois, and w. S. Keller, Of Alabama.
on the present conditions affecting road
construction and measures taken TO
meet them in the various sections OF the
country.
In the afternoon session a speech
WAS made by Charles NJ. Cpham. OF
Delaware, on Car Shortage, Present
Conditions and the Remedy" y short
speech was then made by Ray d.
CndniU, HIaH OF lne ma Always
transport committee OF the National
Council of Defense. After this the as
sociation adjourned for the time bein:
20 take advantage OF the offer OF the
Richmond Automobile Club, and the
members were taken out for view
OF the city. Cars 10 carry the dele
gates were furnished through the
Courtesy OF the members OF the Rich
niond Automobile Club.
MAYOR AINsLIE
WELCOMES VISITORS
In welcoming the delegates OF the as
soci2tion, Mayor Ainslie said that both
Richmond and the State were glad 10
have the members here for their con-
vcntion. The Mayor said that the peo-
pie OF the State OF Virginia are heartily
in favor OF good roads, and that much
progress is now being made TO that
high degree OF efficiency which the
state hopes TO attain. That ;ransporta-
ticn is the basis of all human efficiency
and prosperity, he said, would he de-
MED by nobody. That the railroads are
unable to handle all the transportation
was one OF his chief arguments for the
construction OF good roads. lie pointed
on; that although the European coun-
tries arc faced with the great prob 1
lens OF war none of them has delayed
\. y. williams, OF West Virginia. re-
apoadcd 10 the Mayors war greeting.
In stating that the entire world racos.
ni"cs the liberty Of America. he pointed
ONT now good roads would link prog
"ess and prosperity along every. line.
In pointing out the road conditions
II The East. w. Il. Chicr. Of Pcnnsvl-
ran:a said that three important fac
tors enter in roadhuiid;ns in the East
In The order OF their Importance. he
named labor. car shortage and priority
orders. He said that these problems
had hindcred tho construction Of good
roads. Rut he contcnded that the only
policy 10 pursue was to 20 straight
ahead and make TIC best OF a proposi.
ton hurdened with heavy hanl!caps.
COLEMAN TELLS OF
CONVICT ROAD WORK
In his annual message President
George p. Coleman emphasized the wei
como OF the Mayor. In referring TO use
or conNicts in connection with Federal
aid work he said: In the last twelve
months have attended number of
conferences covering road matters LAM
uary o, together with the executive
committee. we took up with the Sccre-
iary of Agriculture tho use Of convict.
in onAscNont with Federal aid work.
made by your committee aud his rul
inss made possible the use OF prisoner,
on Fedora! aid work on very favorahl.
terms"
In continuing, the speaker said that
possibly the most important oues-
lion which IS before us At this time Is
How can the highway departments OF
the various States best serve tho co,,n.
try In this pi<sent crisis" Thc an
aweT IL not an easy one since Dr.c,i-
ca!lY al! the forces OF the world Ar.
oeinE used 10 carry on the present was..
war of unparallcl horror. but also
OF such unparalleled Justice and rirbt
so far es our own nation is concerned
There IS no doubt that many OF tho
strange new experiences through which
VIC are passing have affected our mental
processes for the worse Chcap clan
trap and appeals, which short time
ago Ve would have passed by or treat
cd with d-rision, nov stir us TO frenzy.
WAR EMPHASIZES NEED
FOR NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Our work then is 20 build such State
systerns--a national highway system
will enable us 20 carry on The war
10 successful ISSUE and At the same
time prepare our country for peace and
enable us 10 develop our resources. pro-
tcct our commerce, extend our interests
and take our proper place in rebuilding
world which has been devastated by
the forces OF war"
The, officers q the American Assocla.
tion OF Highway Commissioners are AS
follows: president. @. p Coleman.
State Highway Commissioner OF Vir-
Sinis. Richmond: VICE president. \. +
Fletcher. state Highway Engineer az
California, Sacramento; secretary. To-
seph Hyde Pratt. secretary of the State
Highway Commission of North caro-.
lima. Chapel Hll: treasurer. +. r.
rogers. State Highway Commissioner
OF Michigan, Lansing
Executive committee william n
Uhler. Harrisburg. Pa. chairman.
G: Shirley. Maryland; T. II AacDon.
a'd' Iowa u. \. stevens. New Jersey:
Lamar Cobb. Arizona
Finance c"mmlttce---s r. Eradt.
Illinois. chairman: ". $ Keller Al.
bama; Paul y. Sargent; Maine: W
Gearhar,. Kansas: Edwin \ DuNev
Esu York
Program Comm!ttee-A. Y. Hrs.
Wisconsin. chairman; John II. Mullen
Minnesota J. Pennybacicr. United