44 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The repairs upon this niilo of road liave been less than flO.OO per annuns 

 since it was built, and from present appearances bids fair to demand but 

 a minimum expense for years to come. Upon com})letion of this road 



OPPOSITIO.N TO THE COUNTY SYSTEM WEAKENED 



and has been steadily growing less ever since, ^^'ith an average county 

 tax of ^5,000 per year the county has built u]) to this time nearly nine id) 

 miles of stone and about three miles of gravel roads, besides having some 

 considerable length of road under partial improvement and being the 

 owner of a stone crusher, roller, engine and other necessary road machin- 

 ery, all paid for. 



The county system in Kalkaska county has been exceedingly satisfac- 

 tory. With our people it is not now the question, do we want to con- 

 tinue the system, but rather how can we moi'e rapidly extend its im- 

 provements. To this end the townships are aiding by doing most of the 

 necessary grading, leaving the county to make permanent by suitable 

 covering. Very many of the most active opponents of the system at its 

 adoption are now its most earnest adAOcates. The farmers have come 

 to realize that the ''mud tax" is far in excess of all other taxes combined. 

 They now recognize that the greatest obstacle in the way of good roads is 

 the general ignorance of how to make them, and universally ackjiowledge 

 that it is 



NOT A QI'ESTTON OF MORE MONEY 



expended upon our highways, but rather to stop wasting that which we are 

 using — not higher taxes, but a wiser expenditure of these taxes. 



That efficient machinery is just as profitable upon the roads as upon the 

 farm. 



That the object lesson of a good pei-manent road in the county does very 

 materially assist ever}' township in improving its highways. 



That ijermanency in road building is not only desirable but economical. 



That under the county system the cities and villages share with the 

 farmer the burden of road building. 



That county commissioners should be selected for their special fitness^^ 

 honesty and general intelligence. 



That it is the height of wisdom to ]!ay as you go and never go into debt 

 for road construction. 



That the county system should eventually include all the roads in 

 which there is a dominant community interest — then, if by a change in- 

 our highway laws, the town could be made a unit and its tax payable 

 in money to its highway commissioner — it could with the assistance of 

 county expert road builders and. with an example furnished easily super- 

 intend and improve those lesser roads bearing a light local trafic- 

 Divorce the whole business from local politics. 



DISCUSSION. 



r. Voyrbeiis: AA'liat did your engine cost? 



A. E. Pahner: .^I'BO.OO. We bonglit also a AVeston erushor for .$1,300.00, also a 

 four-ton road roller. 



Q. Do yon tile roads on the sides? 



