South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-04
NATION SHOULD
BUILD ALL ROADS
J. C., Boss Claims Present RoaL
Building System Not Only
Wrong But Foolish.

Charging that the present ROAD
building system Is not only wrong
but foolish. J. c. Boss of Elkhart
awakened the delegates 10 the good
roads congress at the Chamber of
Commerce Friday afternoon from a
mere desire for good roads TO one
of action when he declared that the
whole thing should be placed in the
hands of the United States govern
men-
Mr. Boss address came after
many OF the other delegates 10 the
congress had responded to the call
OF Chairman Samuel Leeper for eX-
pressiOns regarding the need for
good roads in northern Indiana.
Il have listened to many of you
express your desire for good roads.
began the Elkhart man. Il have
given this matter much thought,
and 1 believe that the whole system
is wrong.
81 cannot see why the citizens of
one small community should be COM
PEELED TO build and maintain roads
over which all the people of the
United States may travel" he con-
/ tinued.
What kind of an army would we
| have had. and how far would we
have gotten in the war if every state
in the Union had a different idea of
army training. a different kind of
equipment for the men, and diff
I ferent set Of rules for the govern
/ ing Of these men?
Unity Is Necessary.
The same is true in road build
I ing. Unity. won the war, and unity
will win this road building fight
4 over in France they built roads 500
years ago. and these roads are still
in good condition.
Il do not believe in this main
tenance business. II roads are built
right. as they should be built. there
will De no need for maintenance. If
It had not been for the good roads
in France, the allies would not have
won the war"
Mr.. Boss declared that the whole
matter OF road building should be
placed in the hands Of the govern
ment. He said, however, that If it
/ is impossible to take that step at
once, the matter of building roads
/ in Indiana should be placed with the
| state government. He advocated the
| creation of a highway commission
with only one commissioner, declar-
/ ing that he is a firm believer in cen
| tralized power
4
| G.. Graham of South Bend offered
| resolutions in which the congress
! expressed itself in favor Of restrict
| ing truck tonnage 10 six tons. the
| creation of a state highway commits
sion composed of one commissioner
and the passage Of the county unit
! law. The resolutions were adopted
and will be forwarded to the mem
bers of both houses Of the general
! assembly which meets at Indianap-
oils a week from Monday.
Legislators Attend.
The congress. which was attended
/ by senators and representatives
| from many Of the counties in the
northern part of the state, and com
! missioners and citizens from these
counties. TO devise means for the
| promotion Of good roads legislation
at the coming session Of the legisla-
ture. was called TO order at l o'clock
Friday afternoon.
/ Mr.. Leeper declared that good
roads and the legislation by which
they may be obtained are among the
| crying needs of the northern part Of
the state. Mr.. Leeper urged the
passage by the general assembly Of
/ the county unit law, and the
creation Of the state highway com
mission. He also pointed out the
| great need for a provision in the
road laws making the maximum
/ tonnage for motor trucks at six tons.
During the meeting everyone
/ present declared himself in favor OF
/ good roads and deplored the fact
that there is not at present any ade-
quate laws by which they can be
/ built. All Of the representative
and senators present promised TO
/ support any needed legislation that
/ may be presented at the coming
session Of the general assembly. but
il remained for Mr.. Boss Of Elkhart
/ 10 put his ideas into tangible form.