CXVIII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



in which conventions are held and sample roads built may be men- 

 tioned as a fifth cooperating force, and a very important one, since it 

 is not only the principal recipient of the benefits, but must furnish 

 the mone}' , the materials, the common labor, and the horsepower needed 

 in building the object-lesson roads. 



The character of this cooperative work can best be indicated by 

 briefly describing the work done in the South during the past autumn, 

 winter, and spring. In October, 1901, the Southern Railway Company 

 fitted up a good-roads train, consisting of a locomotive and 12 cars, which 

 carried the representatives of all the cooperating forces and the road- 

 building machinery furnished by five of the principal concerns that 

 manufacture such machinery in the United States. The itinerary of 

 this train extended through six States — Virginia, North and South 

 Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia — and covered a distance of 

 4,037 miles, the whole campaign occupying over five months. Stops 

 of a week or more were made at eighteen different places, at each of 

 which a road convention was held and object-lesson and experimental 

 road work was done. 



This practical work included the improvement of earth roads, the 

 building of gravel, chert, shell, sand-and clay, and macadam roads, the 

 object being to utilize local materials wherev^er possible and to illus- 

 trate the best methods of using them. Many thousands of people 

 attended the sessions of these conventions and took lessons in practical 

 road work. Addresses were delivered by man}^ men of prominence in 

 political, educational, and religious fields, as well as by scientific and 

 practical road builders and representative farmers. Permanent good 

 roads associations were organized in every State visited. It is believed 

 that the work done has aroused a deep and permanent interest in road 

 improvement in the States visited, and has started a movement for 

 better roads that will ultimately yield results of inestimable value to 

 the South. Plans for work of similar character in several Northwestern 

 States have been matured and will be carried out during the current 

 year. 



Aside from the cooperative work just described, the Office has done 

 much sample-road work in cooperation with State and county officials, 

 educational institutions, and experiment stations. In this way sample 

 roads have been built in four States: Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, 

 and North Carolina. 



The demand for object-lesson road work of the character indicated 

 is very great and comes from all sections. The Office has been able to 

 comply with only a small part of the numerous requests for its active 

 participation in the building of sample roads. During the coming 

 vear work of this kind will be extended as greatly as the force and 

 means of the Office will justify. It should be remembered that this 

 object-lesson work costs the Department nothing except the salaries 



