224 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



But not at all times do men give most thought to the aifairs of 

 most vital moment. Indeed they often turn aside from the things 

 which confer the great blessings, while contending valiantly for 

 the possession of a brass button. In this way it happens that our 

 people seldom stop to consider the eminent utility of roads ; to 

 consider whether the groat blessings they already confer can be 

 wisely augmented, or whether these blessings can be more cheaply 

 secured. Apparently content with what they now receive, and 

 with the great price they pay for the same, our people ask few 

 questions and bestir themselves not at all. Upon examination, 

 however, it would soon be found that not even the expenditures 

 made for our common schools show a return so inadequate as do 

 the expenditures made for our country roads. Our school policy, 

 with its many imperfections, is much more efficient than our road 

 policy ; and we more nearly obtain our money's worth from our 

 schools than from our roads. But our schools would show a yet 

 better return for what they cost, did they give the boys some 

 wholesome instruction about the building of roads and their main- 

 tenance. 



Pvesent Road Policy. 



Throughout the State, with here and there an exceptional 

 town, the old feudal road polic^^ founded on personal service, still 

 prevails. But the personal service, which is seldom rendered at 

 the time it would be of greatest advantage to the road, but rather 

 when most convenient for the laborer, is not the only bad feature 

 about our road policy to-day. There is very little iutelligent 

 supervision of this personal service when it is rendered. In all 

 the State it were hard, perhaps, finding two score men who know 

 what a good road really is, bow it can be most economically built 

 and maintained ; yet with so few equal to the task, the super- 

 vision of our roads is entrusted to four or five thousand men, who 

 arc annually chosen at hap-hazard, as though every person in the 

 community were qualified for the intelligent discharge of the 

 duties of road surveyor. It is indeed quite clear that nearly 

 everyone esteems himself qualified ; for it seldom happens that a 

 man, when chosen road surveyor, institutes a searching inquiry 

 as to how his work can be best done. His knowledge he regards 

 as already adequate. Nor is there any plan of cooperation among 

 adjacent neigliborlioods, but each surveyor works in his own little 

 district, as though it were an island lying aloof from all the rest of 



