248 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



ment which has given several of the States greatly improved systems of public 

 highways. Congress should by all means make liberal appropriations for this 

 branch of the Agricultural Department's service. 



RESOLUTIONS. 



The National Good Roads Association, at its last annual meeting in 

 Chicago, where delegates had assembled from 35 States of the Union, 

 passed tlie following resolution: 



Resolved, That we earnestly recommend that our Representatives in Congress 

 be urged to obtain, if possible, an appropriation of at least .SirjCOOO a year in be 

 applied to the uses of the Public Road Inquiries under the Department of Agri- 

 culture in extending its work of education and instruction. 



The State Grange of Delaveare passed the following resolutions at 

 its last annual session : 



Whereas the more permanent and economical building of public roads is a 

 question of vital importance to the farming community, and whereas the methods 

 of construction and maintenance of such roads must vary with the nature of the 

 country and of that of the available material; therefore 



Be if resolved, First, That the organization of a National Good Ro ids Bureau 

 under the United States Department of Agricultur ■ has onr hearty support. 



Second. That the plan of that Bureau to furnish the engineering skill and certain 

 pieces of heavy machinery necessary in construction of model roads in every otate 

 of this Union meets with our approval. 



Third, That the section of the bill of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 now before Congress, which provides for an increased appropriation with which 

 to pay the expenses of such model road building, also meets with our approval, 

 and we hereby direct our secretary to at once send a copy of these resolutions to 

 our Senators and Representatives in Congress with the request that they give to 

 this matter their active support. 



Several large conventions, some of them comprising 2,000 people, 

 have been held throughout the Central and Soutliern States under tlie 

 auspices of the National Good Roads Association during the past year, 

 and nearly all of these conventions adopted resolutions in favor of the 

 work of this Office and its further extension. A few of these resolutions 

 are presented. 



The Louisiana State Good Roads Association, in convention assem- 

 bled at New Orleans, adopted the following: 



Resolved. That we heartily approve the work of the Office of Public Road 

 Iniiuiries, and urge our Senators and Representatives in ( 'ongress to vote for suit- 

 able appropriations for carrying on and extending the same. 



The Mississippi Good Roads Association, at Greenville, passed the 

 following resolution : 



Whereas the United States Grovernment has large interests of commercial value 

 in this State in the form of lands, post offices, and custom houses; and whereas 

 through the Department the Government is expending large sums of money in 

 the extension of rural free delivery in order that the agricultural classes may 

 possess better mail facilities; and whereas rural free mail delivery to be economical 

 must depend upon good roads: Therefore be it 



licsoliril. That the Good Roads Convention, through Hon. Patrick Henry and 

 other Members of Congress, urge the Fifty-seventh Congress to make more liberal 

 appropriations for the support and maintenance of the Office of Public Road 

 Inquiries, now under the supervision of the honorable Secretary of Agriculture, in 

 order that all States may receive reasonable consideration for road improvement. 



The Tennessee Good Roads Association, at Jackson, passed the fol- 

 lowing resolution : 



Be it resolved, That we earnestly recpiest that the National Government con- 

 tinu(> the appropriations to the Office of Public Road incjuiries, and that this 

 convention heartily appreciate and indorse the good work which it is donig. 



