REPORT OF STATE HIGHWAY ENGINEER. 



Columbia, Mo., December 17, 1907. 

 Mr. President and the Honorable Members of the State Board of 

 Agriculture : 



Since assuming office on July 6th, I have devoted two-thirds 

 of my time to two of the three proposed cross-state roads from 

 Kansas City to St. Louis. The idea which first went abroad that 

 the State was to build this road, created much enthusiasm, which 

 was greatly lessened after the facts were understood. There still 

 remain enough genuine advocate of this movement to eventually 

 bring results. The idea is to build these roads by the organization 

 of road districts under the "benefit assessment" law. Five pro- 

 posed districts, comprising in all about 50 miles of road, are in dif- 

 ferent stages of organization. The publicity given these roads has 

 done much in the agitation for better roads. 



During the time not devoted to the cross-state roads, I have 

 been fully employed with other roads of the State. Besides in- 

 quiries answered by mail, I have made personal trips for investi- 

 gation to Troy, Elsberry, Steedman, Springfield, Raymore, Belton, 

 Marshfield, Billings, Neosho, Odessa, Norborne and Van Buren. 

 Places which have made calls and now await a personal trip are 

 Gazette, Novelty, Savannah, Oregon, Holden, Hardin and Gains- 

 ville. 



Estimates of cost have been made for 18 miles of road at 

 Troy, 6V2 miles at Elsberry and 6 miles at Steedman. I am draw- 

 ing up specifications and forms of contract for 5*/2 miles at Spring- 

 field and 18 miles at Raymore. Have had made a complete field 

 survey and am working on plans, estimates, specifications and con- 

 tract for 4 miles of road at Pleasant Hill. The calls to Marshfield, 

 Billings and Neosho were to assist in devising some method for 

 general improvement of the surrounding roads; to Odessa, for 

 consultation in the formation of a benefit district for the purpose 

 of making a graded earth road and construction of permanent cul- 



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