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mei'S, are becoming fully convinced, that economy as well 

 as comfort, requires better, aye, much better roads, than 

 we now have. The people, generally, look upon the " Act 

 of the Legislature " in regard to state roads, with evident 

 satisfaction, the building of which, on the most ap- 

 proved scientific principles, will be an object lesson, by 

 which our town road surveyors and superintendents may 

 improve their methods. It is believed that through the 

 incompetency of the men usually elected to that position, 

 the large sums appropriated for road repairing and road 

 building have not been expended profitably, or given the 

 benefit which the public ought to receive, so that while 

 good roads are expensive, bad roads are more so. It is es- 

 timated that the bad roads of the country cost the farmers 

 especially, and others, several hundred millions of dollars 

 annually. 



Let us therefore encourage the building of good roads, 

 national roads, state roads, country roads and town roads 

 of good quality. We may well look abroad for examples 

 of thrift and economy, in ancient and modern times, for 

 roads centuries old, in perfect condition. 



How else can thousands of the unemployed, be provided 

 for with a comfortable living, better than by building 

 such roads, and thus furnish work for those who are 

 willing and unable to do better, and by compelling all able- 

 bodied tramps who are unwilling to work, to earn the 

 bread they eat. 



Make begging by such a misdemeanor, subject to this 

 remedy, as a substitute for mistaken charity, an appeal to 

 their higher manhood. 



The Committee unanimously award the 1st premium of 

 •f 20 to the town of Danvers, for their experiment in good 

 Toad building. 



For the committee, 



Benjamin P. Ware. 



