238 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



4. Defects, real and imaginary, in the road laws, and especially in the 

 county road law. 



5. A prejudice against the bicyclists. 



6. The general incompetency of the existing personal labor tax sys- 

 tem of road improvement. 



When, a short time ago, Gov. Rich was asked the question: "What 

 do you consider the main obstacle to road improvement?" he replied, "I 

 think, above all other things, lack of interest and failure to appreciate 

 the benefits of good roads." No doubt the greatest trouble lies here. 

 While there seems to be a pretty general sentiment abroad that our 

 public roads are not just what they should be, still people are divided 

 into two classes regardijig the desire for better ones. There are those 

 who are ready, even anxious, to discuss ways and means, legislation, 

 taxation, etc., with a view to attempting something better if it can be 

 shown to be profitable. But there is another class — those who think good 

 roads are no advantage, however little they may cost. "What was good 

 enough for our fathers and grandfathers, is good enough for us," they 

 say, and there ends the argument. Such apathy can only be remedied by 

 continued and energetic activity on the part of those in the first class, 

 backed by an exhibit of the economic and educational advantages accru- 

 ing from improved roads, as well as considerations of health, safety and 

 comfort. 



A QUESTION OF MONEY. 



The road question is preeminently a question of money, and will work 

 itself out on a money basis, if at all. However desirable it might be to 

 have perfect roadways all over the nation, they will not be provided 

 unless it can be shown to be a good investment, a profitable undertaking. 

 Many of us believe that in many places time, comfort and money are 

 being lost because road improvement is not begun. .The majority of the 

 people concerned do not agree with us, else I am satisfied the improve- 

 ment would begin. What is the trouble? In my opinion, with all the 

 agitation there has been, there has not yet come a period of examination 

 of the scheme whereby the individual shall satisfy himself of the profit in 

 it, as he always does before making any considerable investment. 



I can get little satisfaction from the discussion of problems involving 

 too general data; as, for instance, considering the whole number of 

 horses owned in this nation, more than 16,000,000, and trying to show 

 that bad roads cost yearly $15 per horse; or, in the aggregate, |250,000, 

 000, chargeable to bad roads. No doubt such methods of figuring for the 

 promotion of road improvement are legitimate and the results obtained 

 are correct, but it is infinitely more persuasive to me to have figured out 

 a problem into which enter only the conditions immediately at hand. 

 Such a problem was presented to me a few weeks ago, and I was sur- 

 prised at the results. I happened at the time to be visiting a friend in 

 a neighboring state. He is a farmer, pretty generally alive to his inter- 

 ests, and an honest man. I say this in advance of your forming an 

 opinion of him from what follows : I asked him if he was interested in 

 good roads. He answered, "I would like to be, but I can't afford to be. 

 We need better roads; no question on that point. My boy and I have 

 just lost a week's time waiting for the road to get into shape so that we 



