1882.] QUESTION BOX. 213 



Mr. Olcott. Perhaps Mr. Hinman would allow me to ask 

 him one question. 



Mr. Hinman. I won't dodge. 



Mr. Olcott. Whether he would say that in every instance 

 in wliich the fiowage act is brought into exercise, it would be 

 a public benefit ? All the question I raise is, whether we 

 should not consider these things ? I think if Mr. Hinman will 

 read what I have said carefully, (I liave gone over it hastily,) 

 he will not object so much. I am only saying that we should 

 consider whether it is always of public use ; that is all. 



Mr. Hinman. My answer would be very short to that. No 

 human law is perfect and will fit every single case. It is 

 necessary that our laws shall be so formed as to meet general 

 cases as they rise. I know of no law that may not by some 

 chance inflict hardship upon particular persons. I say very 

 plainly, that there are cases in which the injury to a privat** 

 individual may be greater than the benefit conferred upon the 

 public. The property may not be put to any public use, or be of 

 any public benefit ; the man who undertakes to establish a 

 mill may fail and swindle all the people about, and certainly 

 it would not be any public advantage in that case ; but the 

 law, as a law, is one of vast importance to our State, and one 

 that we should be very poorly off without. 



The Chairman. The question box will now be opened by 

 the Secretary. 



Question. With a good farm to work upon in Connecticut, 

 what has a boy to gain in the long run by leaving tlie old home 

 here and going west ? 



Mr. Gold. He cannot gain anything, says one. Does 

 anybody object to that answer? 



Mr. Webb. I will tell you one thing he can gain — a wicked 

 experience. 



Question. If a field covered with heavy oat stubble is to 

 be planted next spring, which is the better way, to turn that 

 stubble in or to burn it ? 



Mr. Ayres of Farmington. Turn it in, by all means. 



