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Missouri Agncultural Report. 



of road conventions held by the Board of Agriculture in co-operation 

 with various county courts and commercial clubs throughout the State. 

 Sentiment was thus created in the State that caused the enactment by 

 the 44th General Assembly, in 1907, of laws carrying every one of the 

 propositions recommended into effect. This required the enactment of 

 several laws and the submission of a constitutional amendment provid- 

 ing a State levy for State aid for permanent roads, and making a State 

 appropriation of nearly one million dollars. All of the above measures 

 are now in operation except the constitutional amendment providing 

 money for a permanent State road fund, which failed of adoption by 

 only a small majority, but the following legislature resubmitted the 

 proposition, and it will be voted upon at the next general election, with 

 good prospects for its approval. It might be well to explain here that 

 this failure to secure money for the State good roads fund was not the 

 fault of the Board of Agriculture, neither was it the fault of the members 



of the legislature, or the 

 general sentiment in the 

 State, but was an unforeseen 

 condition arising because of 

 the increasing demands up- 

 on the State revenue fund. 

 Progress in road building 

 has been retarded because of 

 this lack of funds, but not al- 

 together stopped, a number 

 of counties having gone 

 ahead and improved some of 

 their roads in a permanent 

 way. A general improve- 

 ment is seen in the counties 

 in the way of building better 

 bridges and particularly a greater number of concrete bridges, and a 

 general saving in the cost of administration in road work. As soon as 

 a producing State road fund is provided, the good effects of our present 

 system and the work that has been done up to this time, will become 

 progressive and permanent. 



The veterinary department of the Board has secured larger appro- 

 priations and new legislation, the most important of which is the law 

 providing indemnity for cattle condenmed and slaughtered on account 

 of tuberculosis. 



Every one familiar with the progress that has been made, fully ap- 

 preciates the general awakening that has taken place during the last 



One of the farmer's road tools — "The Missouri Idea." 

 (From booklet, "Testimonials on Missouri Roads.") 



