OFFICE OF PUBLIC ROAD INQUIRIES. 249 



The Western Kentucky Good Roads Convention, at Hopkinsville, 

 passed the following: 



We urge and recommend the members of Congress from western Kentucky to 

 use their influence to secure sufficient appropriation for the Office of Public Road 

 Inquiries under the Department of Agriculture of the United States Government. 



We believe that the burden of common-road improvement must be shared by 

 the taxpayers of each State, but we further believe and declare that the Federal 

 Government should establish a sufficient bureau for the proper education of the 

 people in the most economic and scientific methods of road construction in the 

 several States. 



The Kentucky Good Roads Association, in convention assembled at 

 Louisville, passed the following resolutions, which are similar to those 

 adopted by the convention which assembled at Owensboro, Ky. : 



Resolved, That we earnestly recommend the Members of Congress from Ken- 

 tucky to urge larger appropriations in the Fifty-seventh Congress for the support 

 of the Office of Public Road Inquiries under the Department of Agriculture, in 

 order that said Office may extend its education by distributing bulletins and con- 

 structing sample roads as object-lessons in all States and Territories. The Gov- 

 ernment owns lands, post offices, and custom houses in all States. It is deeply 

 interested in extending rural mail facilities to promote the social and commerjial 

 advancement of the agricultural classes. We believe that the burdens of common- 

 road improvement must be shared by the taxpayers of each State; but we further 

 believe, and be it 



Resolved, That the Federal Government should aid, through the Office of Pub- 

 lic Road Inquiries, in educating the people in the most economic and scientific 

 methods of road construction in the several States. 



DEATH OF SPECIAL AGENT HARRISON. 



The good-roads movement has sustained a severe loss during the 

 year in the death of the veteran road builder, Mr. E. G. Harrison, 

 who died in this city February 6, 1901, at the age of 73. 



Mr. Harrison was one of the pioneer road builders of New Jersey, 

 and the success of the movement in that State was largely due to his 

 untiring zeal and conscientious work. For several years he had been 

 connected with this Office as special agent and road expert, and during 

 this time he directed the construction of object-lesson roads and dem- 

 onstrated the importance of road improvement in nearly every State 

 east of the Rocky Mountains. His presentations of facts and theories 

 were unique and effective, and he was universally liked. His work 

 for American highways was in many respects simirar to that of John 

 L. Macadam, the pioneer road builder of England. 



PLANS FOR 1901-1902. 



It is intended during the ensuing year to continue the work and 

 enlarge its scope so far as the appropriation will admit. We have 

 made only a small beginning in the work designed to be done through- 

 out the country, and there are now on file numerous applications for 

 our assistance. We have already had to forego numerous opportuni- 

 ties to take charge of the construction of sample roads where practi- 

 cally all the expense except that of our supervision was guaranteed. 

 Under such conditions a minimum appropriation by the General Gov- 

 ernment can be used to accomplish a maximum of good results. 



Out of a large number of requests for practical cooperation, five 

 places have been selected where this Office will assist in building 



