Editor’s note: Following is the second part of a story series by contributing writer Brent Engel.

 Elliot Major didn’t have to look far to find another champion of the Good Roads Movement.

The Missouri governor, who grew up on a farm near Edgewood, appointed Frank Buffum of Louisiana as the state’s first highway commissioner.

Buffum was perfect for the job. He had been an executive of lumber, button, tool and telephone companies, and was a stockholder in the Bank of Louisiana.

Congressman Champ Clark called him “one of my most valued and public-spirited constituents” and believed the roads campaign of the early 20th century would be successful under Buffum’s “intelligent supervision.”

“That Missouri, which leads in so many things, should add to her honor the leadership in the good roads movement is a consummation devoutly to be wished by every good and progressive citizen,” Clark said.

The task would not be easy. Of Missouri’s 110,000 miles of routes in 1913, almost all were dirt. There was inconsistent maintenance by county governments, townships and road districts.

Buffum changed that, drafting rules for counties to follow before they could get state matching funds to finance upgrades. Roads had to be at least 40 feet wide with open ditches and concrete culverts. The state would provide $15 per mile — around $400 today — to counties which dragged roads to make them passable.

Buffum toured the state to check on conditions. Newspapers lauded the effort and urged support of the campaign, noting that Missouri car ownership had doubled to 38,000 in just two years.

Major proposed a get-your-hands-dirty campaign on Aug. 20 and 21, 1913. He urged all able-bodied people to work on road improvements. Rural parts of Missouri were especially supportive because they had the worst roads. Farmers generally were the first to offer a hand, but people from all walks of life agreed to participate.

Towns had contests to see who could rake in the most cash, and in some counties people who were unable to work hired substitutes for $1 a day. Across the state, neighbors agreed to chip in for the construction of bridges or to extend pavement. Major kept up the encouragement.

“As Missourians have ever been the pioneers in western achievement and civilization, let us now lead the way to a new day in road work and improvement,” he said.

Major put his money where his moxie was by agreeing to work on Good Road Days, and stayed positive as the event drew closer.

“These two Good Road Days will mark an epoch in the history of Missouri and in our zeal for road building,” he said. “It will be the most stupendous two days’ public work ever given in the history of the republic and will stand unequaled, unique and absolutely alone.”

Other politicians followed Major’s lead, including most of his cabinet. The governor even commuted the sentences of 30 state prison inmates who agreed to participate. Major invited Kansas Gov. George Hodges to join in grading a road. Hodges agreed, as long as Major provided the overalls.

By sunset on Aug. 21, an estimated 250,000 Missourians had taken part, doing what was believed to be $1.5 million in work – the equivalent today of more than $37 million.

Major said the two days were among the best of his life.

“As a boy, I traveled over nothing but bad roads,” he recalled. “I made up my mind then that if I ever got a chance, I would do all I could for better highways.”

 

Next time: Just the start.