Arizona republican., 1922-04-25

the West and wished them success in
the work the yhave undertaken.
The United States Good Roads as
sociation, which is perhaps the most
important of all the organizations
actively interested in the building of
more and better highways throughout
the United States. and the Bankhead
National Highway association. which
has conceived and made into perfect
whole a military. economic and tour
ist highway from the steps OF the
capitol in Washington, ID. c., through
the southern states and then west
ward to the Pacific ocean at San
Diego, where the associations which
were brought together last evening,
and the delegates which represented
them and the 26 states which are
interested in these conventions We're
those men who have taken the most
important and definite part in the
highway development Of their COM
monwealths.
In the opinion OF those who watched
the proceedings, the opening Of the
conventions was most auspicious
one. In every address the note
sounded was that of optimism and
courage for the future as well of con-
tentment in what has been accomp-
lished in the past All the speakers,
whether from the East or West, dWelt
on the civilizing and humanizing in
fluence of good roads, and all OF them
saw in the development of modern
systems of highways the sdrest
means of cementing the interests OF
all the people of this country.
RoUNTREE PRESlDES
In charge of the opening meeting
last night was j. A. Rountree, direc-
tor general Of the two associations.
who for 80 days has devoted himself
in Phoenix to the multitudinous de-
tails OF arranging the plans for the
gTear conferences. To great degree
the success of the opening meeting
was due to the falicity with which he
introduced the speakers, the lucidity
of his keynote address. and the wit
with which his remarks were inter-
larded. After the Rev J. A. Stayely,
pastor OF the First Methodist church,
had delivered an invocation. Director
Rountree entered upon his address,
speaking in part as follows:
Rountrees Address
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ten years ago 2500 enthusiastic
good roads boosters, representing 27
states throughout the union. met at
Birmingham, Ala, and organized the
United States Good Roads associa-
ton, which has worked in season and
out of season for the cause of good
roads.
1t was the first good roads organi-
cation in the country to advocate
and help to secure the passage Of
federal aid in congress. 1t was the
backbone in the fight for federal aid
and was the prime mover in winning
public sentiment, which forced con-
gress to place on the statute books
the Bankhead federal aid bill, which
Senator Bankhead of Alabama had
to fight long and hard to establish
the principles of federal aid in road
building, and it was not until years
had passed that he was able to con-
vert congress to the idea of assist
ing the state in the development of
their highways. Since the first APP
preparation in 1915 Federal aid has
proven a most important factor in
encouraging and stimulating road
building. The necessity and advan-
tages of good roads need no longer
he argued to the vast majority.
Good roads speak for themselves and
results have proven their value.
Federal aid was first inaugurated
for the purpose of stimulating the
building of roads and encouraging
the states ito pull themselves out Of
the mud" this being done, for every
state has under way road programs
of great Importance.
Now that the preliminary stage
has been passed, federal aid achieves
greater Importance and its chiet
function has increased from that OF
a stimulating agency to one of great
err character, which embraces CO.
operation and coordination leading
to the fast network of connecting
highways that will play an important
part in transportation and trade.
It was the United States Good
Roads association which was organ
ized in Birmingham, April 20, 1918,
with Senator John H. Bankhead as
its president, which started the prop-
aganda throughout the nation, which
won the support of the general pub
lie. the various officials of civic or
ganizations and members of the SEN
ate and congress to enact in a law
the principles of federal aid.
This association has met regularly
for the past 10 years, carrying out its
purposes and objects for which It
was organized for the promoting OF
a consolidation of all state assoeia-
tons. organizations and individuals