Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-07-29
RANQUETEO At THE REPUBLIC
Good Roads" Earl, DIR. DOOlit'
tie and Galbrath Gave Lee
lures in Republic Town.

Hundreds of Alma people turned
out Tuesday evening 70 greet the
members of the Michigan Pixies AS
sociation on the 1920 international
tour of the pikers through the prov
ince of Ontario, Canada, and through
Michigan, a trip of fourteen days,
during which time good roads were
continually boosted to the thousands
Of people who greeted the tourists.
The motorcade was a little late in
arriving in Alma, but once here
things began to hum. The scores of
automobiles and trucks in the tour
paraded through the business section
of the city shortly before 700 p. m,
two Alma made products, Republic
trucks being at the head of the out
fit. Alma people were very agree
ably surprised to find that trucks
with such equipment were sent out
on a tour, part of which was over
roads that had just been opened up,
some Of il over roads that were al
most impossible, and a part over
roads that were really good. One
Of these trucks was a fire truck,
while the other was truck equipped
with a special body, and carrying
eight shower baths for the use of the
tourists in removing the dust ac-
cumulated during the travel each
day.
After the parade through the busi-
ness section of the city, the tourists
were taken 10 the cafeteria at The
Republic for banquet.
Following the banquet the Ford
band which accompanied the tourists,
gave a concert at the corner of State
and Superior streets that was well
greeted by the hundreds of Alma
people, who had turned out to greet
the tourists.
After the close of the concert some
highly interesting addresses on good
roads were given by prominent good
roads advocates, these being DR.. Doc
little, president of the Canadian
Automobile Association, Fl. S. Earl
better known as Good Roads" Earl
the pioneer worker for better roads
in Michigan, and W. s. Galbrath OF
Detroit, president of the Detroit
Automobile Association, and father
of the Dixie highway movement.
W.. S. Galbrath of Detroit gave
some Of the reasons that prompted
the tourists to include Alma on the
trip. He said that part of the
plan for putting Alma on the route
was because Of the important bust
ness of The Republic Motor Truck
Company Inc, and because Alma was
OF the direct highway from Detroit
to the 500. He spoke in high praise
Of the Republic organization, ano
also Of the performance of the Re-
public trucks on the tour, saying that
during the twelve days that the
tourists had been on the road he hat
seen no trouble with the Republic
trucks.
Good Roads" Earl said in part:
There was an attempt in the las
legislature to pass law whereby tn,
automobile taxes should be used Il
pay off the fifty million dollar bon,
issue. AS the farmers of Michigan
own more autos to the thousant
they would have to pay more thar
their proportionate share of the bont
issue. This would not be fair I,
them who have as many burdens Z
bear as they can stand. Neithe
would il be fair to the mechanic VIII
owns no property except his hom
and an automobile.
Further, as the automobile take
amount TO approximately three mil
lion dollars per year, in twenty year
il would reduce the amount of goo,
roads built by sixty million dollar
worth Raise the money to pay of
the bonds by a direct tax on all tax
able property, so that each possesso
will have 20 pay his legitimate an,
equitable share.
Zone half Of the automobile take
go back to the county from which
is collected, for keeping in repair tn
good roads already built and to bull
more.
The other half goes to the Stat
Highway Department for repairing
trunk line roads and paying tn
States share Of the cost on farm I
market" roads.
II wish 70 say to every farmer es
pecially, and to all others intereste
in good roads and the welfare of tn
State. elect no man for governor O
senator or representative who favor
paying off the bonds with the auto
mobile taxes.
This is the most important issu
in the present state campaign"
In bringing mis- address to clos
he made a strong plea for good road
and the development of the countr
for the men and women of the futur
generations 10 whom we owe tn
debt
DIR. Doolittle president of the Car
adian Automobile Association, CAV
a history Of the good roads movemer
in Canada and the results that It wa
now achieving campaign similar