Arizona republican., 1919-01-27
The Good Roads Conference

The Good Roads Conference
 If there was ever a time in the history of state when a definite we'll co-ordinated road building pro arlm was essential to the states wclbeing and de- ,eopment it is the present moment in Arizona. The statewide good roads conference which convenes today for the purpose of outlining definite and well balanced good roads program has the best wishes of an good citizens for successful and constructive meeting.
 It is unlikely that in great a program as that for the construction of permanent good roads sys fem for a state with of almost 1140O0 square miles all the men who come together in the good roads conference today will be entirely of mind But they will come in accord more essential points than could ever have been agreed upon before and they will be agreed on one fundamental and vital pont-the need of immediate and close cooperation with the federal government in the construction of permanent highways within Arizona.
 There will be men here who have never taken an active interest in the subject of good roads, who in fact, thought very much about it; they never considered tho subject relation to the general sub- ect of transportation. Whatever interest they had m good roads was confined to thoroughfares within he comparatively limited range of their needs They had looked upon good roads as supple mental to the service of railroads.
 They now see that the full and rapid develop mcnt of region is not possible without good roads that in consequence of good roads, there will rapid increase of taxable wealth with which pay for good roads and extend them. In other words. that good roads have been proved to be valuable state assets while poor roads liabilities.
 There is still another thing, un adventitious hing, that has about with suddenness and has furnished the most compelling reason for immediate action. That is the matter of unemployment that peace has brought with it. The country had long foreseen that consequence but had failed grasp magnitude of it; it has thought that the government would somehow solve the problem George" would do it. But George isn't doing it and do it. It must be done by the people of every community. The question of unemployment is more serious than he most timorous ever feared it would become and With the rapid and unsystematic discharge of the sol iiers, the dumping of them back into civil life, the -tuation is growing more menacing every day.
 Conferences to which labor leaders every industrial center of the country, including the great mining towns of this state, have been called by Sec retary of Labor Wilson, to be held in Washington this week. What is to be accomplished is expected to be accomplished have not heard and the labor leaders have not been informed by the call Labor has not so far we know any special grvance at this time to be adjusted and it has suggested these conferences. The government appears to have seen something alarm it. But certainly conferences cannot create jobs.
 The undertaking of good roads construction would more quickly than anything else relieve any labor congestion The government can furnish em- ployment to many thousands of men when Secretary Lanes soldicrsettlement plan has been adopted, but that, necessarily is many months in the distance. It s a gigantic and must be a slow moving enterprise ,n a large scale now that would perceptibly touch the congestion.
 With the marvellous increase in the use of motor vehicles, permanent, we-draiued, scientifically -tructed roads vitaly needed in development How to get these roads promptly without waste and to outline program of road building which shall combine efficiency, economy and energy is the task should be able to offer valuable suggestions for ac complaining this big job.
 Other points which there is general agree ment now that good roads system cannot be constructed pece-meal section without reference 70 immediate future construction; that there is no other material so worthless and damaging for road construction politics. that it is essential to >ood roads it good that politics should be wholly absolutely and permanently divorced, and that the work can be done only under the direction of a permanent, patriotic high minded and competent highway commisson-not a advisory commis- but one clothed with authority to decide and act