330 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
CoMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, 
January 14, 1904—10.30 a. m. 
Hon. James W. Wadsworth, chairman. 
The Cuarrman. Mr. Dodge, on page 27 of the estimate, you have 
asked for an increase from $35,000 to $65,000—really an increase of 
$45,000, because $15,000, according to the estimate, which heretofore 
has been taken from your lump sum, is transferred to the Chemistry 
Division. Go on in your own way and tell us what you propose to do 
and what you have been doing. 
STATEMENTS OF MARTIN DODGE, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF 
PUBLIC-ROAD INQUIRIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL- 
TURE. 
Mr. Doves. The request for the increase is based primarily upon 
two facts: One is that we have more demand for assistance than we 
can respond to with the help that we have. Of course, you understand, 
I suppose, that we do not pay money in aid of any work of any kind, 
but we have a number of persons employed by appointment of the 
Secretary, whose services are available for such work as is called upon; 
and I find that there are many States, especially in the Southwest and 
in the far West, that receive no assistance of any kind, and receive 
but little attention from us, because we have not a sufficient number 
of men to send. And another reason for asking for an increase is, 
that heretofore the railroad companies have given us free transporta- 
tion of machinery, but they have lately refused to do that in some 
instances; and I have reason to think that they might cut off that 
altogether, and in that case we would be almost paralyzed. I thought 
it was wise to treat the States as nearly alike as possible. 
It is known to many members of the committee, especially the older 
members, that work was started years ago, and General Stone was the 
first director. Much of the work he did was confined to the East. 
Since J have had charge of the office I have been working more in 
the West and in the South. I have gone into 292 different States 
and assisted in the construction of object-lesson roads. I have gone 
into a larger number of States and assisted in convention work, 
addressing legislatures and committees of legislatures, explained what- 
ever topic might be up for discussion; and I must say to the com- 
mittee that the information we have given has been acted on very 
generally. It seems to be highly appreciated, and the theory that we 
work on is that it is desirable to cooperate in the building up of the 
system of roads. Of course you know, in the first instance, the Gov- 
ernment did build and pay the entire cost of a national road and some 
others, but later they abandoned that policy in all of these States. 
I think the whole matter was turned over to the local authorities, 
being the county commissioners, the township trustees, road super- 
visors, and petty officers having small jurisdiction and small revenues. 
But within the last few years several of the different States have set 
a good example in showing that a general fund raised by general taxa- 
tion and applied so as to be a portion of the cost of this road building 
is very beneficial. It takes off a portion of the burden that rests upon 
the owners of agricultural lands. It seems that the burden has been 
