Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-09-24
The All Important Road Question
Thoroughly discussed by Persons
From all ever the Country.
Gov. d.. II. Francis and State Board
of Agriculture present-A Large
Attendance Tuesday.
The First State Meeting Ever Held in the
United States Purely in the Interest
of Roads-Interesting and In
structive Interviews.
AN IMPORTANT MEETING.

AN IMPURTANI MEEIlNGs
a large crowd of home people, in
addition to the visitors, met at Court
House Wednesday night to hear
the address of Governor Francis on
the road question. J. A. Potts,
president of the State Beard of
Agriculture, called the meeting to
order and secretary of the Board of
Agriculture, Chubbuck, was made
secretary of the meeting. Mr.. Potts
then called upon Gov. Francis to
preside. The Governor, On taking
the chair, made a splendid practi-
cal address. During his remarks,
which were listened to with inter-
est, he covered the entire ground.
He showed that he thoroughly un-
derstood the road question III Mis-.
souri, and knew just the wants of
the people in this regard. Among
other things he said that except
for the cost of guarding the con-
victs in the penitentiary he would
favor their working the roads, but
under the circumstances he thought
it would be better to take the
money that required and use it in
buying the latest improved ma
chinery and employing men who
thoroughly understood the bust
ness. He said he was gfatified
with the interest taken in the mat
ter at this meeting, and was glad
to see so many members of the
County Court, road oysrseers and
others interested present from va
rious parts of the State. He also
complimented the road grader men
on the harmony and pleasant feel
Ing which existed during the con-
test. He then impressed fully all
those present with the Importance
of good roads and said that such
roads would increase the value of
every acre of land in the county,
and greatly increase the value of
our products. Speaking of the
products Of Audrain county he
said: "You have two railroads,
the Chicago & Alton and the Wa
bash, ana have nine shipping sta
tons. Audrain county, during the
year 1890, shipped $40 car loads
of cattle, TIC of hogs, 211 of horses
and mules, 81 of sheep, AZ of corn,
252 of hay, 270 of oats, "a of wheat,
AZ of flax, 5 of broom corn, 100 OF
flour, 6S6 Of fire brick, 116 of coal,
5 of fruit, 81 of lumber, 3 of scrap
iron, % of poultry, % of junk,
105 miscellaneous, 4S of lime, 13
of emigrant outfits, and l of wool,
making a total of 3,703 car loads.
That is the surplus of Audrain
county; that is what this county
produced over and above what she
could consume. With good roads
more products would be shipped
from the stations in Audrain and
the value of the same would be
greatly enhanced" He then .ex-
planned how every citizen, no mat
ter whether he was q farmer or q
professional man, was interested in
good roads. He also referred to the
TACT that this is the first State meet
ing ever held IN the United States
in the interest of good roads. He
expressed himself as being strong
Iy in favor of improved machinery
for working roads and desired to
thank Secretary Chubbuek, at
whose instance this meeting was
called by the State Board If Agri-
culture, for the active work he had
taken in regard to this matter. The
Governor then thanked the men,
bers of the committee who are act
ing as judges in the contest, and
thanked the road grader men who
had came here with large expense
to show the valuable results which
could be obtained by using such
machinery. The Governor said
also that there seemed to be Il feel
ling throughout the State that the
road law could be changed to an
advantage and that if he had to call
an extra session of the Legislature
to re-district the State he would
ask the Legislature to pass a new
road law, if one which was practi'
cal and satisfactory could be pre-
pared. He said that he was op
!, , posed to bringing up any new leg
+ islation at called meeting, bu
he though. this matter could b.
. presented, which would not detaii
the Legislature too long.
He said he thought there was n,
Question of more importance befor,
9 the people of Missouri to-day thai
g the road question, and he was il
i hearty accord with any Legislation
t which would tend to improve on
!. roads. He said he hoped to iv
9 to see every county seat in tn
q State of Missouri connected wit
9 each other by gravel roads. Gov
Francis then called upon Senate