Report of Treasurer. 21 



Second. To provide an adequate number of trained men for 

 the supervision of road construction in the various localities of 

 this State, we recommend the immediate establishment of a course 

 in road engineering and the equipment of a suitable laboratory 

 for the testing of road materials at the State University at Colum- 

 bia. 



Third. All the people of the State being interested in and 

 benefitted by a better system of highways, State aid should be ex- 

 tended to the various counties for the construction and improve- 

 ments of the public roads, such State aid being provided from new 

 sources of revenue other than those now existing or in the treas- 

 ury. 



Fourth. Redress from the present distressing situation in 

 road maintenance and construction can only come through judicial 

 changes in our State Constitution, and such changes being possible 

 more quickly and more surely by the adoption of a new Constitu- 

 tion covering adequate sources of revenue than by any amendment 

 to the present Constitution, we, therefore, strongly urge upon the 

 Legislature the calling of a constitutional convention at the ear- 

 liest possible moment. 



Fifth. We strongly endorse the drag as the most effective and 

 practical method of maintaining dirts roads, and would suggest that 

 some law be enacted whereby its more general employment for 

 this purpose may be effected. 



Continuing this campaign, I have asked the co-operation of 

 the commercial clubs and county courts with our Board in hold- 

 ing district road conventions, and we have arranged for the follow- 

 ing meetings under this co-operation : Maryville, December 19 ; Mo- 

 berly, December 20; Kirksville, December 21; Mexico, Decembei 

 22; Lamar, December 26; Harrisonville, December 27, and Se 

 dalia, December 28. We have also arranged to co-operate with 

 the county court organizations of the State to hold a State good 

 roads' convention January 15 and 16 in Jefferson City. It 

 is hoped by this agitation to crystallize public sentiment in favoi 

 of some broad, progressive system that will bring about better 

 roads for the State, particularly to put road building and main- 

 tenance in the hands of an organized department of trained men, 

 and furthermore, to provide for State aid. 



CORN IMPROVEMENT AND SOIL FERTILITY. 



Two other subjects, which have been presented at practically 

 all of our institute meetings, are corn improvement and soil fer- 



