642 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



Missouri men liave established a tradition of temperamental suspicion. "I'm from 

 Missouri and you must show me" is the catchword which they have adopted, as if thinking 

 that it indicated acumen rather than plain stubbornness. But Governor Major of Mis- 

 souri, anxious to get work done, has decided to make a personal application of the local 

 maxim and see if his constituents really want to have actual work shown thorn, ready for 

 their hands. As in many parts of the country, the roads in Missouri need a lot of work 

 done upon them. Governor Major has begun at the right end; he has shown Missourians 

 the roads and there is no doubt that they need somebody's pick and shovel, intelligence 

 and back muscles. But is it only necessary to show Missoiu-ians work in order to get them 

 to do it? This is what the whole country will take real interest in observing for itself. 



ATTRACTED WORLD-WIDE ATTENTION. 



The Capital News (Ind.) of Jefferson City made tliis com- 

 ment on the good roads days: 



Governor Major undoubtedly made a great hit with his good roads proclamation. It 

 is a matter of genuine surprise how far the Missouri idea has traveled and how generally 

 it has been approved. 



A great many thousand Missourians took the Governor's proclamation at its true 

 meaning, and beyond any doubt much good was accomplished. 



The value of the improvements made during the two good road days can never be 

 exactly known, but the total must be far above one million dollars. This of itself was well 

 worth all the effort made, even if no good results follow hereafter. But everybody knows 

 by this time that the two good road days were but a beginning of what is to follow. The 

 Governor tried public opinion out — and he found that the sentiment of the people was with 

 him. 



It is rather a curious fact that the rest of the United States and all the more enlight- 

 ened countries in Europe took the move in Missouri far more seriously than a good many 

 home people, even employes of the State government and appointees of the Governor. 

 Every state in the Union has taken the good roads boom to be a most commendable under- 

 taking and one that was pushed through on the good roads days with the most satisfactory 

 result, and in this they are exactly right. 



Europe has viewed the movement with all seriousness. Governor Major has received 

 a wagonload of letters and printed articles from all governments of Europe commending 

 the good roads movement here in Missouri, and also complimenting the enlightenment of 

 a people who will take hold of such an enterprise on their own motion and at their own 

 expense and push it through successfully. 



CITY AND COUNTRY PARTNERSHIP. 



Editor Paul W. Brown of the St. Louis Republic wrote 

 many strong editorials that stirred anew the patriotic spirit and 

 the feeling of State pride and love for home in this good roads 

 day campaign. The Republic voiced the spirit of co-operation 

 between city and country in these words: 



When the farmer is unable to market grain, hogs or cattle to advantage, because bad 

 roads prevent hauling or compel small loads, that means less wealth in the State and less 

 consuming power on the part of the city's best customer. When bad roads in winter shut 

 up farmers on their farms, just at the season of leisure for travel, that means smaller crowds 

 on the streets of the city. When the farmer cannot get to town the country merchant 

 feels the effect first — but the city jobber feels it next. When the farmer, either as the seller 

 of produce or the buyer of finished articles, is hindered in his coming and going, the manu- 

 facturer in the city, in consequence, needs fewer men and pays out less wages. St. Louis 

 is just as truly interested in good roads in Pike county, Stoddard county, Laclede county 

 and Adair county as the people of those counties themselves. 



This State was torn and rent by the Civil war. For years its community life was im- 

 poverished by the war's effects. Missourians did not meet each other on the level of com- 

 mon State pride and fidelity as did the men of Iowa, or of Kentucky, or of Kansas. Attach- 

 ments were strong, but they were local or regional — not State-wide. 



Today a new spirit is abroad. New possibilities of co-operation are being realized. 

 The laws passed by the last Missouri Legislature gave proof of this. A new sense of State 

 unity shone through them. And this road festival, its enthusiasm covering the face of the 

 State like a prairie fire in blue-joint grass, is giving an additional and mighty impulse to 

 the unity of the New Missouri. 



J 



