746 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 
own prosperity, but that of the entire country, that the farmers are now 
everywhere demanding larger appropriations by the states for road im- 
provement, and for federal appropriations for the same purpose. They 
believe that a part of the money raised by the taxation of all the people 
of the United States should be devoted to assisting in the construction 
of better roads, and are taking action to secure the enactment of the 
necessary legislation by congress. 
"The initiative in the movement for federal appropriations has been 
taken by the farmers through their principal organization — the National 
Grange — which has upward of 1,000,000 members, with local granges 
in all sections of the country. 
"The National Grange is organized to further the interests of the 
farmers in legislative matters, and has for several years favored the 
policy of national aid to road improvement. During the past year it 
has perfected plans for carrying on a widespread, systematic move- 
ment throughout the whole country, for the purpose of creating a 
public sentiment favorable to legislation by congress creating a na- 
tional highways commission and making liberal appropriations in 
aid of public road improvement. The grange believes that the proper 
method of securing legislative action on any subject is through first 
convincing the people that it is in their interest, and when this has 
been accomplished bringing the influence of the individual voters to 
bear on their senators and representatives; and it is with this view 
that they are conducting their educational campaign for good roads. 
"A bill embodying the principle of federal assistance was prepared 
by the grange legislative committee, and introduced in congress at 
its recent session by the Hon. Frank D. Currier of New Hampshire. 
This bill was carefully drawn so as to meet all objections raised against 
bills previously introduced for the same purpose. By decisions of the 
Supreme Court of the United States it has been held that the National 
Government has power to construct, maintain, or improve roads in the 
various states used in interstate commerce, and all roads leading into 
or connecting therewith. Under the grange bill it will be possible for 
the proposed highways commission to aid in the improvement of any road 
in any section of the country, since all roads connect with or lead into 
some other road which is used in interstate commerce. It is believed, 
however, that the greater part of such appropriations as may be made by 
congress will be expended by the highway commissions or other road au- 
thorities of the various states. 
"It may be objected that in undertaking to assist in the improvement 
of our highways the National Government would be encroaching on 
the sphere of the states, and that the matter is one with which con- 
gress has no concern. I would submit that the long neglect of the 
nation to contribute toward the expenditures for road improvement is 
no reason why this mistaken policy should be continued. The chief 
obstacle, in fact I might say the only difl^culty, in the adoption of a 
general plan of highway improvement is the lack of the money neces- 
sary for the construction and maintenance of improved roads. The 
principle that the work of road improvement should be provided for 
more largely out of the public funds and less at the expense of the 
