My apologies- this should have been posted before the last two articles about the road association.
The Caddo Herald
November 28, 1913
Caddo Boosters for Good Roads
Last Monday night P. W. Howe, W. F. Dodd, Claude Smith, and W. C. Hatcher went to Durant to attend the Oklahoma, Texas, and Gulf Highway Association meeting.
The plan as outlined proposed a good dirt road from the Gulf to Denison, to Oklahoma City, taking in Colbert, Durant, Milburn, Mill Creek, Sulphur, and Davis. These Caddo boosters went to Durant to show cause why this road should come by way of Caddo and Kenefick to Milburn- and so well did they show up the advantages of the change, they were assured that Caddo would be included in the route. Mr. Howe for Caddo pledged that Caddo would see to the work from Blue River to Caddo and west to Kenefick with the help of the citizens of that enterprising town; and Mr. Howe has a convincing way of putting things, too. He knew whereof he spoke, for he has boosted Caddo before and found her people always ready to help. In fact it might be said that the part of the road is already (done) only a comparatively small amount of work being required to put it up to the national standard. Mr. Hatcher, on behalf of the farmers also assured the meeting that they would do their part in the work.
Sidney Suggs, who is State Highway Commissioner, has the work immediately in charge, and assured the delegation that he would appoint J. E. Davis as engineer for this part of the work, to be paid by the state. Mr. Davis is a loyal citizen and a competent engineer. As soon as he is appointed he will go to work on the survey.
The highway that is being designed is on a big scale, and will go to every state in the union, and means are being provided for its maintenance, with a road overseer every five miles whose duty it will be to drag the road after every rain, and to see that all chug holes are filled and all bridges kept in good repair.
The meeting went on record at the suggestion of P. W. Howe as favoring a law that will allow the state convicts to work the roads in any county under the supervision of the state Highway Commissioner, the state to furnish the tools, graders, teams, and tents as well as guards and engineers. In this way the prisoners will be put to a useful work, at the same time will live in more healthful quarters, and the people as a whole will be benefited.
The county commissioners assured the meeting that they would do all in their power to help- they have called a “Good Roads Day” in Bryan county for Tuesday, December 9th, when it is expected that every business and every enterprise in the county will close, and every man will go out and work the roads, put in culverts and bridges, repair same, and in every way put every road in the county in good shape.
Caddo folks will enter heartily into this scheme, and many citizens will do the work. Autos will be freely furnished, scrapers and mules will be enlisted, and dynamite will be used when necessary. It is their purpose on this day to put hundreds of miles of road in good shape. To accomplish this it is necessary that not only town people go out and work, but that the country people also help. They can bring teams and drags, scrapers, and plows. Much good can be accomplished in that one day if all the people will get out and help.
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