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DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1908. 

 (Third Day.) 



MORNING SESSION. 



The Congress was called to order at ten o'clock a. m., by Hon. E. A. • 

 Burrell, of Montpelier, Idaho, presiding. 



CHAIRMAN BURRELL: The first number on the program this 

 morning is a paper on "Good Roads and the Farmer," by Prof. H. M. 

 Bainer, which will be read by Prof. Jardine, of Washington. Prof. Jardine, 

 gentlemen. (Applause.) 



MR. JARDINE: I certainly did not want to inflict you with my 

 presence much longer, but it seems that Mr. Bainer, being a friend of 

 mine, and I having been at the Fort Collins Agricultural College the 

 other day, he desired me to read his paper here. I am afraid it will be 

 done rather poorly, however, since I have not had time to look it over. 

 Mr. Bainer is Professor of Farm Mechanics at the Colorado Agricultural 

 College, at Fort Collins, Colorado. 



CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF EARTH ROADS. 



(By H. M. Bainer, Professor of Farm Mechanics, Colorado Agricultural 

 College, Fort Collins, Colorado.) 



There is no one question of greater importance to the Western 

 States than that of good roads. Good roads are a great advantage to 

 the financial, social and educational conditions of a country. The success 

 of many undertakings depends upon the road conditions. Good roads 

 decrease the cost of transportation, facilitate rural mail delivery, and 

 permit more easy intercourse between the rural and city population. 

 They make living along them more desirable; they economize time and 

 power in transportation of products, reduce wear and tear on horses, 

 harness, and vehicles, and raise the market value of real estate. 



The American peple are beginning to realize that road building is 

 a public matter and that their best interests demand the construction 

 of good roads. Money wisely spent for this class of roads is certain 

 to return with interest and large profits. Earth roads must be used 

 almost entirely in the West. They are not expensive, comparing them 

 with other forms of roads made of gravel, broken stone, etc. One mile 

 of good earth road can be constructed at less cost than ten miles of 

 broken stone or gravel roads, especially where these materials are hauled 

 from a distance. 



The main traveled roads leading into cities should be constructed 

 of either broken stone or gravel, however. The cost of these roads will 

 vary from $1,000 to $5,000 a mile, and for general use throughout the 

 country must be considered too expensive. For this reason it is neces- 

 sary that we become educated as to the best methods of constructing 

 and caring for our earth roads. 



