336 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
Richardson, the secretary of the association, at that time and ever 
since, is here at the pieeenk time. He happens to be in the city, and 
I would be very glad if the committee would see fit to hear him some 
time on this matter. The national association made the proposition 
to me to cooperate with them and the railroad companies, and in the 
Southern States the work I refer to was done through this cooperative 
method, and we only did a very small amount in each State. 
Mr. Bowe. The Southern Railway Company was the company 
that took so much interest in it, was it not? 
Mr. Dones.. Yes, sir. I speak of building half a mile, a mile, and 
two miles, in Michigan; but in these Southern States the greatest num- 
ber, probably, of the 22 I mentioned, we did not build so much. It 
is desirable to build, at least, half a mile. It is desirable it should be 
done in the most scientific and economical manner. You can hardly 
do either one of those things in the hasty trips that are according to 
schedule time, because we are interrupted by bad weather and often 
delays are caused by unexpected failures. So, when I spead of going 
into this large number of States, I do not want you to understand I 
have done that the way I would like. I think if this committee would 
see fit, in its wisdom, to provide us with a sufficient fund, sothat we 
could go to every State and build, anyway, four object lessons, in four 
sections of the State, of perhaps a mile in length, and show them what 
could be done with their material, and with proper machinery and 
with the proper mixtures, that it would be of’ almost incalculable 
benefit. 
Mr. Scorr. How long have you been doing this work in the 22 
States? How many years will that cover? 
Mr. Dopex. About three years. Of course, General Stone, for 
about six years, was at the head of the office, and he did a few small 
pieces—one in New York, one in New Jersey, and perhaps two or 
three other small cases. It was a matter of very great doubt what 
should be done. Of course, I think we all understand that this is an 
unsettled question. We do not any of us feel certain just what to do 
or just how far to go. I have been feeling my way carefully, and had 
some doubts as to the beneficial results, but I am free to say to the 
committee that the reports coming in every way, by letters and by 
oral communications, all show that the people receiving the benefits 
are pleased with the benefits, and they ian well of the Government 
that is willing to do something’ in a small way that comes close to the 
homes of the people. ; 
Mr. Scorr. As I understand it, then, you want this increase chiefly 
for the purpose of being able to extend this work of sample road 
building? 
Mr. Doper. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Scorr. In the event that the increase were granted, how much 
of it would you say would probably be spent in office work, in addi- 
tions to your office force here in Washington ? 
Mr. Dover. There would be no increase at all; we do not require 
any increase in office force. It would be given to outside work. I 
would like to .ay in this connection that the Secretary has appointed 
for three years past four resident agents—I think, perhaps, the com- 
mittee is informed, but possibly some of them are not—but out of the 
appropriations which have been made, $6,000 have been devoted to the 
payment of four resident agents at $1,500 each. 
