436 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



or around the same mud holes that we did ten, twenty, possibly thirty 

 years ago, and is it not true that we have come to regard as fairly good 

 any driveway over wliich we can drive an ordinary load without getting 

 stalled? 



The good roads question is now a live issue throughout the United 

 States. November 14-17 the American Road Builders Association held its 

 eighth annual convention at Rochester, New York. The American Good 

 Roads Congress held its annual meeting at the same time and place. Ad- 

 dresses were made at these meetings by the most competent engineers 

 and practical road builders in the country. Every phase of road making 

 was fully discussed. Gravel, chert and sand clay material had their 

 advocates. Drainage, bridges and culverts claimed their full share of 

 attention. Indeed, the problem of substantial and economical road con- 

 struction was intelligently discussed. At Richmond, Virgnia, only a few 

 days later the American Association for Highway Improvement met and 

 was addressed by noted American and Canadian engineers. Certain con- 

 gressmen are (to my mind foolishly) recommending federal aid for public 

 highways. State agricultural fairs, farmers' conventions and farmers* 

 institutes are giving the subject prominence, and the results are sure to 

 give us sooner or later better country roads. I am glad to note so many 

 of our Delaware county ladies are manifesting an interest in this question. 

 Surely the pleasure and comfort of good roads will be appreciated by none 

 so much as the ladies. Frequently in summer I return from the farm 

 between the hours of four and five; almost invariably I meet a half dozen 

 or more rigs with children from the country returning home from Man- 

 chester schools. Will not the mothers of these children be greatly re- 

 lieved when the possibility of accident to these children, that is always 

 incident to poor roads and poor bridges, is entirely removed? I am sure 

 such will be the case. And as the construction of perfect highways in 

 Iowa will depend upon the combined efforts and co-.operation of us all, 

 we most heartily urge that our ladies discuss this great question in their 

 clubs and be prepared to advise their indifferent husbands as to their 

 views of the good roads question. 



And now I want, if possible, to convince this audience that perfect coun- 

 try roads are a valuable farm asset. During the coming season many 

 of our Delaware county farmers will enlarge the old or build new homes; 

 some will bulla new barns; others will lay several rods of tile; still others 

 will repaint a part or all of the buildings on the place. Will any sane 

 ifarmer contend for a moment that the expense of such improvement 

 should not be charged up to the farm? Is there any other way by which 

 he may know what his farm has cost him? If the improvements on a 

 one hundred and sixty acre farm has been $800.00 he added $5.00' per 

 acre to the cost of the farm. If $1,000.00 is the amount expended, then he 

 has added $10.00 per acre to the actual cost of the farm. If this method 

 is correct (and I hardly think anyone will question it) then is it not 

 possible that a perfect public highway running by a man's farm may 

 be such an improvement as to add to the selling value of the farm, and 

 if so, why should it not be considered an asset as much as the other im- 



