142 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



something, wlio will stand by it. If you cannot get it in one session, 

 take it to the next. If you do not get it, go back to the people. The 

 people are always in favor of having something. They want good roads 

 just as much as you do, and are just as tired of the conditions every- 

 where prevalent, and are in favor of improving them. State your needs 

 earnestly and fairly, do not surrender, do not lay down, stand up for 

 what is right and proper and keep hammering at it. If you are not suc- 

 cessful in getting it at one time, get it the next. But you keep surrender- 

 ing. You have a bill that is all right — it reads fine, but it is like the fel- 

 low's flying machine — the machine is all right, but it won't fly. You want 

 something that flies, that's the idea. 



Now, gentlemen, I want to talk to you for a minute about this Brown- 

 low bill. As I have stated, this comprehends the Government taking its 

 part, having its share in contributing towards this co-operation for im- 

 proving the highways, and the people have become aroused upon the 

 subject. It is a growing subject and one that must come and I wish that 

 good old Missouri would get in line with it. I would like to have you on 

 the firing line early, would like you to be the first one to plant the flag 

 upon the ramparts, that Missouri would be the very first petition that went 

 into the Department for an improvement of the highways in this State. 

 I have a copy of this bill here : I won't take time to read it now. It 

 is for the co-operation of the different states. The first appropriation 

 asked for is $20,000,000. The first appropriation made by the state of 

 New York, I think, was about $100,000 ; the last appropriation was more 

 than $600,000. The amount asked for from the next legislature of New 

 York is $1,200,000; the state of Massachusetts is the same way. I only 

 state this to show how this matter will extend and grow if it is given the 

 start. The plan is following the general principles of the State Aid Law. 

 Petitions are sent from the various states to the Department, and this 

 money is apportioned to the states according to their population and more 

 general interest, and that is of general interest to the Government, and 

 the importance of public highways. Tlie same principles apply to the 

 state. The state reserves the right of inspection as to the importance 

 of the road. Naturally enough, the main lines will be the first to have 

 consideration, but whenever the main lines are built, then it follows in a 

 short time that the less important will receive due consideration. If you 

 get two or three main good macadam roads crossing the county, all going 

 out into different directions, the rural route will eventually take care of 

 the others. If people ever get a taste of good roads, they will never stop 

 until they have all the necessary roads. The day of toll gates has gone 

 by, so you had just as well eliminate that from the consideration of the 

 building and maintenance of roads. That is a useless thing, so that you 



