EEPOET OF THE SECEETAEY OF AGEICULTUEE. 



ascertaining the condition of the roads, the state of public opinion in 

 regard to their improvement, the obstacles in the way, and the best 

 means and methods to be employed in securing better highways. 

 Efforts were next directed to furnishing information in order that the 

 people might be educated on this question, and to arousing interest 

 and forming public opinion in order that practical results might be 

 secured. Work along all these general lines has been continued up 

 to the present. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



For several years after this Office was created its principal work 

 consisted in collecting, publishing, and distributing information. 

 This was embodied in a series of bulletins and circulars covering 

 almost every phase of the road question. Of these publications hun- 

 dreds of thousands of copies have been distributed. Some of them 

 have been reprinted several times, and nearly all of them are still 

 available for distribution. 



The literary branch of the Office's work is still receiving careful 

 attention, but it is no longer the principal line of work, greater atten- 

 tion now being devoted to educational work of a more concrete and 

 extremely practical character. 



OBJECT-LESSON ROADS. 



For spreading information and arousing interest, there is nothing 

 equal to the practical object lesson. . The Office of Public Koad Inquir- 

 ies has been trying to show the people the best in the good-roads line. 



During the past year " object-lesson "or " sample " roads have been 

 built in nine States. While these have not been built at the expense 

 of the Government, nor on the initiative of the Office of Public Road 

 Inquiries, they are the fruits of its efforts. The Office simply accepts 

 invitations from organizations and communities to give cooperation 

 and technical advice in the making of these sample roads. 



Work of this kind produces excellent results. The demand for its 

 extension is far greater than the Office, with its present force and 

 means, can meet. 



In the building of sample roads heretofore the machines have been 

 loaned by manufacturers, and the railroad companies have carried them 

 free of charge. The local community has furnished the labor and 

 material, and the Office of Public Road Inquiries has given expert 

 advice and supervision. The Government could, at comparatively 

 small expense, purchase the machinery necessary for continuing and 

 extending this work, and it seems appropriate that it should do so, 

 thus putting this very important branch of the work on a firmer 

 foundation. 



