236 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



by the use of the road drag. We are to have a discussion on 

 that next week by Mr. Beard. They call it the Mount Ayr plan 

 of road building, and it has been a very successful plan. The 

 giving of prizes by the commercial club in that case, and I see 

 no reason wh}^ the state should not take an active part in some- 

 thing of that kind. I believe for the maintenance of earth roads 

 by the use of the drag that the state could afford to maintain in 

 every toAvnship either a system of prizes for one or more miles of 

 road that would be kept up in the township as an object lesson 

 for the township, or would simply pay to have the work done, and 

 regard it as a maintenance proposition. 



Mr. Mershon: What is the nature of these prizes? 



Mr. MacDonald : They are cash prizes. I am not familiar with 

 the amounts of them. I think the cash prizes have run as high as 

 fifty dollars for a mile of road. I am not familiar with the details 

 of the prizes offered, but they are cash prizes. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



