I 



LIVE STOCK BREEDERS. 139 



that is practically going to confiscate his property, and he is not going to 

 do that for the general public and incidentally for the benefit he may get 

 from it. He mav use it a little more, but that is the only difference be- 

 tween his use antl that of the general public. Now, no man is going 

 to sign that kind of a petition, and it is not just that he should. Tlie 

 principle in the construction of the hard roads is that it should be under 

 a general supervision either by the State or through the county, and the 

 states that arc most successful are the states that are organized under a 

 State supervision, and the tax for the construction of these roads is paid 

 in a sum one-half or one-third by the State, 25 per cent to 30 per cent by 

 the county, and about 15 per cent by the abutters of property. That 

 equalizes the cost. They are letting them out upon contract and the result 

 is that petitions are now piling up in the office of the engineering depart- 

 ment and highway commission of these several states to such an extent 

 that it will take them years and years to build all the roads that are applied 

 for, and every legislature brings numerous requests from the state to aid 

 in the construction of these roads and highways. The farmers and those 

 who opposed this sort of measure in the beginning, are now the most 

 hearty in its endorsement, the most clamorous for the roads, and they are 

 building throughout these states magnificent highways. And' this is 

 the solution of the problem, gentlemen, all you have to do is to get away 

 from any blind prejudices that you have that to build hard roads means to 

 confiscate your property and just sit down and say we will not improve 

 our roads and will stick to these old conditions, and use the good com- 

 mon sense that you have been endowed with, investigate the matter and 

 get with your neighbor and make a plan which will equalize all the bur- 

 den for yourself and others to secure the road. The bill of Mr. Rrown- 

 low that is now pending in Congress, is simply a factor to that state plan. 

 "The National Government," he says, "has an interest in post and mili- 

 tary roads, and wherever there is to be constructed a highway connect- 

 ing two states, or in one state, in which the Government may have a 

 special recognized road for military or for post or other purposes, then 

 upon petition the Government shall come in as a contributing factor in the 

 construction of that road. It enlarges the field and to that extent makes 

 it easier for the communities to have the result desired, that is, good 

 improved roads. I think it is a subject that should command your atten- 

 tion. I think it is a subject that demands your endorsement. If you 

 will investigate it, if you will direct your Congressmen in that direction 

 to look into it, it will be of commanding influence in directing Congress 

 along that subject." 



There are other forces besides that of the office of road inquiries, 

 under the Government, that are now operating to stimulate this particular 



