344 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
we have done very well. Iwas rather disappointed that the committee 
did not allow the money for that purpose, but we really have done 
exceedingly well, and perhaps as well as we would have done by bny- 
ing the machinery; but the question is, how long this will continue. 
The machinery companies are all getting into trusts, like everything 
else, and I do not know 
The Cuarrman. They have got no better way to advertise their 
goods than this. If I was engaged in that business I would endeavor 
to have the Goverment exhibit my goods around the country. I would 
furnish the goods and furnish a man to run them, too; and I would 
not ask the Goverment to pay the man. I could not have a better 
advertisement. 
Mr. Havern. What discoveries have you made in building roads 
that would be of benefit? 
Mr. Doper. I think .a very valuable discovery is this that I have 
referred to in the mixing of sand and clay. 
Mr. Haucen. When was that discovered? 
Mr. Dopes. It is a growth that results from many trials and long 
years of observation. It isa new thing. Also the vitrification of the 
clay. 
Mr. Havueuen. Fifteen years ago the very same thing was done by 
the road supervisor in my own county. 
Mr. Dongs. That is a credit to him. Did it work all right? 
Mr. Haveuen. Worked very satisfactorily; yes, sir. 
Mr. Dopex. I am giving Professor Holmes great credit for that, 
because, so far as I know, he has done more of it and has introduced 
it to the public notice. This, as you say, is a good thing, and it ought 
to be used very generally, but 1t is not known very generally, and 
furthermore those who do know probably may not know just how to 
proceed in the most economical manner and how to determine the pro- 
portions and quantities. 
Mr. Havenen. Can not this information be disseminated through 
bulletins? 
Mr. Doper. We are doing that; and we would like to say in ref- 
erence to Mr. Spoon, who is operating under the authority of Profes- 
sor Holmes, in the Southern division, I called on him only the day 
before yesterday to go to the farmers’ institutes in Maryland and 
explain that very process fora period of one month. For the fol- 
lowing month he is to go to Raleigh, to the Agricultural College, and 
explain to the students there. We aim to keep these field men, that 
do the work of the summer time, at work in the winter time, explain- 
ing these processes—all that we discover in that respect. 
The Cuarrman. You speak of this mixture of clay and sand as a 
discovery. The exact proportion may be a discovery, but we have 
known that in our country for years—that the thing to try on a sand 
road was clay and on a clay road was sand. 
Mr. Burteson. What is the best proportion to use, Mr. Dodge? 
Mr. Doves. That has to be determined by the quality of sand and 
the quality of clay on observation. I should think approximately 
half and half. There is no mystery about this, but it is useful infor- 
mation, and, of course, it is given out through oral instructions. 
Mr. Lever. Did you build any roads in Columbia, 8. C.,-in Richland 
County ? 
Mr. Dopex. We have not built any sand-clay roads. 
