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this list the provision creating a Bureau of Markets, under which has 

 been developed the most effective organization of its kind in the 

 world, with available funds this year of $4,000,000 or $5,000,003. 

 The Bureau is rendering valuable service to agriculture in very many 

 directions. Particularly significant and helpful are its Market News 

 Services, which are furnishing information of great value daily to 

 producers throughout the Union and have, in some sections, con- 

 verted hazardous agricultural enterprises into successful businesses. 



RESUMPTION AND EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. 



There remain other things to do. I can only sketch them. We 

 must resume as quickly as possible, in full measure, the operations 

 under the Federal Aid Road Act. You understand why they had to be 

 contracted during the war. It is highly important that they be 

 resumed. I need not emphasize before you the fact that good roads 

 are prerequisite for better agriculture, for orderly distribution, and 

 for a healthful and attractive country life. From unexpended balances 

 of Federal appropriations for the last few years, from State funds 

 beyond what was necessary to meet the Federal allotments, and from 

 amounts available during the current fiscal year, we shall have for 

 expenditure during the calendar year approximately $75,000,000. 

 Next year, if all the balances should be expended during this year 

 and we should have to rely solely on the funds accruing next year, we 

 shall have from Federal appropriations about $20,000,000 and proba- 

 bly more than this amount from state sources. The states, in addi- 

 tion, will expend sums in excess of what they have assigned, or will 

 assign, for Federal aid road projects. Still, it seems to me that we 

 should take a further step — take this step not only because of the 

 importance of good roads, but also because of the desirability of 

 furnishing worthy projects on which unemployed labor during the 

 period of readjustment may be engaged. There will be many things 

 suggested for which Federal and state funds will be sought. Some 

 of these will be unworthy. Clearly such public works as roads are 

 worthy, and it would be in the public interest to make available larger 

 appropriations from the Federal treasury, to be used separately or in 

 conjunction with State and local support. 



NECESSARY MACHINERY ALREADY EXISTS. 



There need be no delay in the executiDn of such a program. The 

 Nation has already provided the machinery in the Department of 

 Agriculture and in the state highway commissions. The Federal Aid 

 Road Act was fruitful of good legislation and each state in the Union 

 now has a central highway authority with power and funds to meet 

 the terms of the Federal Act. The two agencies, in conjunction, 



