20 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



While this plan is more expensive per individual instructed, I be- 

 lieve it is profitable, because of the number of farmers who hear 

 the lectures who otherwise would not when the meetings are held 

 only in larger places. 



In this connection, I would recommend that an increased ap- 

 propriation for institute work be asked for, and if it is secured, 

 that an institute assistant be employed for the entire time. Dur- 

 ing the institute season he can attend the meetings, and during 

 the rest of the year he can assist in the organization of the work 

 and attend occasional meetings that are asked for continually 

 throughout the year. 



GOOD ROADS. 



The question for a better system for road construction and 

 maintenance in this State has been given a prominent place in 

 cur institute work. At most of the regular meetings the subject 

 has been taken up, and in addition several road conventions have 

 been held and are now arranged for. Early last spring Mr. G. H. 

 Lawson of Livingston county, representing the business men and 

 farmers of that county, proposed to the Board of Agriculture that 

 they would furnish the necessary expense for paying premiums 

 and advertising a good roads' convention, to be held under the 

 auspices of the State Board of Agriculture, to be held in Chilli- 

 cothe during the first week in September. This proposition was 

 accepted and the convention was held, with an attendance of 200 

 regularly appointed delegates from other counties and a local at- 

 tendance estimated at 4,000 to 5,000 people. During the conven- 

 tion three miles of improved dirt road were constructed in com- 

 petition for a prize of $200.00, One of these roads was built by 

 the citizens of Livingston county, another mile by the Smith Manu- 

 facturing Company, and the third by the Austin-Western Manu- 

 facturing Company ; the first prize being awarded to a mile of road 

 improved by the Austin- Western Company, which was over a clay 

 gumbo bottom. For the best display of road machinery the award 

 was a tie, and the premium divided between the Smith Manufac- 

 turing Company and the Austin- Western Manufacturing Company. 

 At the conclusion of the convention the following resolutions were 

 unanimously adopted: 



First. We favor the creation by the next General Assembly 

 of the office of State Highway Engineer, under the jurisdiction 

 of the State Board of Agriculture, to co-operate with the local 

 officers in the furtherance of good roads. 



