Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-01-22

and continuous line. This act of 1870 is
in the interest of adjoining States
rather than Kansas, and should be re-
pealed. While it remains on the statute
books, the act of 1875 cannot be given
much practical force as against railway
companies. The last mentioned act,
chapter 8, special session of 1875, has
been for years dead letter on our statute
books. Adequate means for enforcing it
should be provided, or it should be re-
pealed.
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Our road laws need thorough revision.
Better highways are necessary, and some
system should be devised under which it
will be possible to secure them. The
present system of making and improving
country roads is not only wasteful and
unjust in its operation, but unsatisfac-
tory in its results 1t is a system Of
patching" between rains. It employs
host of officers, generally inexperienced
and careless, and often incompetent, to
direct work that would be much more
intelligently and economically accom-
plished under the direction Of one ex.
perienced and responsible officer. It
calls farmers from work they understand,
and in which they have direct per-
sonal interest, and compels them to en-
gage in work they do not understand,
and in which they have only a commu-
nity interest. The provisions of the road
law allowing road taxes to be worked
out and delinquencies to be reported and
placed on the tax roll of the succeeding
year, are an anomaly in our tax pro-
ceedings. If road district should en-
al
the road tax, collected in cash, should be
expended under competent supervision,
and the work done with improved ma
chinery and appliances, the public would
be far better served, and at less cost, than
under the present system.
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
Our State Board of Agriculture has,
through its various publications. achieved
a national reputation, and has been OF
incatcuable benefit to the Stale in max
ing known its resources and productions.
Its work, as authorized by law, is to
collect. arrange, and furnish for the
pubic, general information concerning
Kansas. The monthly, quarterly, annual
ami biennial reports OF the Board, re-
latlng TO the resources, products and ad-
vantages of the State, are unequaled by
any similar publications in this country,
and are eagerly sought for, both far and
near. In its efforts to promote the agrl-
cultural interests of the State, and
encourage industrial and manufacturing
enterprises within our borders, the
Board and its officers have shown COM
mendable activity and enterprise. l
have no hesitation in saying that this
department deserves continuance OF
the liberal support heretofore extended
to it by the Legislature. Ithas probably
contributed more, in proportion to It's
cost, to the settlement, development, and
material prosperity of the State, than
any other agency.
CUR STOCK INTERESTS.
ERNEST protests have reached me from
stock owners in several portions of the
State, against the proposed National
Cattle trail" The complaints of injury
and losses to our cattle interests, growing
out of the movements of Texas cattle
through Kansas, are also numerous and
vigorous. 1t is alleged that the losses
from Texas fever" so-called, are much
larger than is generally supposed; that
the presence of Texas cattle within our
borders is constantly increasing source
sas; and that it is of the highest import
ance that the driving of such cattle
through any portion of the State during
the months when they are liable to com.
municate fever, should be absolutely pro-
hibited.
The stock interests of Kansas are 80
large and of such vital Importance to the
general prosperity of the State, that
81 fnr hni
against loss or damage should receive
your prompt and favorable consideration.
The Legislature, at Especial session held
last year, made provision torthe organlza-
ton of a Cattle Commission and the APP
pointment of State Veterinary Surgeon.
No reports from this Commission and
officer have been received by me, but
they will. have no doubt, be transmit
ted for your information in due time. If
additional Legislation is necessary to
give practical direction and force to the
measures already adopted for the pro-
lection of our stock interests, 1t Will COM
mand my hearty approval.
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The State Horticultural Society of Kan
sas has become one of the leading horti-
cultural organizations of the country.
Its reports are instructive and valuable,
and its influence in stimulating and de-
veloping the interests it was organized
to promote, has been wide and potential.
Your attention is directed to certain re-
concentrations of the Society, embodied
in series OF resolutions recently adopted,
and which will be presented to YOU.
THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
This Society has done and is doing
work of great value and Importance. Its
main object is the preservation of ma
terials relating to the founding, growth
and progress of the State, which would
otherwise in large part pass away with
the lapse of time. The entire collections
of the Society are the property of the
State, ar.l the most valuable portions of
them are the free gift of its members
and other voluntary contributors. These
collections already include over sixteen
thousand books, newspaper files, and
pamphlets, nearly all relating to, or con-
nected with, the history and develop
ment of the State. The people will, |
believe, approve any reasonable appro-
priations for continuing the work of the
Historical Society.
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.
State officers are required, by law, to
mention. in their reports to the LegiSla-