112 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



an indemnifying bond drawn in accordance with tlie provisions of 

 some man-made law, but a guarantee in accordance with that 

 higher law in which is written: " B j their works ye shall know 

 them." Then what work shall we do? What work can we do 

 that will be better than that which we have been doing? Let 

 us see. 



We can do as they have done in other counties, organize county 

 good-roads leagues. Through such organizations we can get all 

 the literature on the subject. Each member would thus become 

 familiar with the present laws and from time to time be posted 

 on any proposed new legislation. We would be in touch with 

 like organizations in other counties^ thus putting us in com- 

 munication with all portions of the state. Comparisons of condi- 

 tions could then be made, which is very necessary, for a law that 

 might be of great benefit to one portion of the State might be of 

 little or no use to another. For instance, the " Higby- Armstrong 

 Law " may be of great advantage in some counties. In a county 

 which contains large cities that pay a large portion of the county 

 tax, it seems clear the advantages would be much greater than 

 they can possibly be to Cortland county. With all counties in 

 communication through County Good Roads Leagues, the wants 

 or wishes of one portion of the State would be known to the other 

 and any proposed legislation might be so framed as to meet the 

 needs of all. 



Next let each town adopt the money system as provided by the 

 " Fuller Law." I am happy to say that my own town has done 

 that by a vote of nearly three to one in its favor; yet I do not 

 believe that there are very many of the voters of my 

 town that are fully satisfied with the provisions of the 

 " Fuller Law " ; but they seem to reason that it is the 

 best within reach, and certainly a great improvement on 

 the labor system. Under its provisions every man will 

 pay a road tax in proportion to his assessment, and not pay 

 it by sitting under a shade tree by the road side, while his neigh- 

 bor is shoveling gravel in the sunshine; neighborhood quarrels 

 over highway work will be a thing of the past, and I think all 



