No. «. UEPAKTMENT OF AUK1CUL.TUUE. Tr' 



both ti;i\L'lfis niul ;;oods j>ent'riill3' [la^scd froui [)la(c' lo plait-; 

 aiul lliose Iiijihwa.ys appeal' (o have beeu far worse (haii miglit. 

 have beeu expeeted from the degree of wealth and eivilizatioii 

 lo whieh the nation bad even then attained. On the best lines of 

 eomniunication tlie ruts were deep, the descents precipitous, and 

 the way often such that it was hardly possible to distinguish in 

 the dark the line of travel from the heath and feu which lay on 

 both sides." I have no doubt but each of you can readily call to 

 mind such a road in this State, that fits exactly this description. 



Macaulay further says: "One chief cause of the badness of the 

 roads seems to have been the defective state of the law. Every 

 parish w-as bound to repair the highways Avhich passed through it. 

 The peasantry were forced to give their gratuitous labor six days 

 in the year. If this was not sufficient, hired labor was emploj^ed 

 and the expense was met by a parochial rate." ''A change from 

 this law was at length effected," says Macaulay, "but not without 

 much difficulty, for unjust and absurd taxation to wliich men are 

 accustomed, is often borne far more willingly than the most reason- 

 able impost which is new." 



Gentlemen, do you not agree with me, that we should set aside 

 our old road system which is practically the same as the old English 

 system that was condemned over a hundred years ago, when the 

 present system of road improvements in that country was inaugur- 

 ated, and establish a system that will enable the farmer and tax- 

 payer to enjoy to the utmost the benefits derived from having 

 good roads, besides giving value and having something tangible 

 to show for the money expended? Not since the passage of our 

 public school law has there been placed upon our statute books 

 an act that so vitally affects all the people of this Commonwealth 

 as does the act of 16th of April, 1903, and which is known as the 

 "Good Roads Law." It is of especial interest to the farmers. 

 Many of you are undoubtedly familiar with its provisions, but a 

 hasty review of it may, nevertheless, be of interest to you. 



The act may be divided into two parts, the first of which provides 

 for the reconstruction of township roads, and tlie second, for main- 

 taining them after reconstruction, and also the maintaining of other 

 roads that have been already built in accordance with the best 

 standards. 



The primary move in obtaining State aid in the reconstruction of 

 township roads should be made by the supervisors or township com- 

 missioners, who may petition the county commissioners to make 

 application to the State Highway Department for the co-operation 

 of the State in the reconstruction or permanent improvement of 

 any prineipal highway within tlu^ townshi]i. or any section thereof, 



