The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-09-26

j
I department of,%hich he is the head
may grapple with the question Of
Egood roads, one OF the most i'm
portant OF the problems that the
lgrowing state Sf West Virginia has
ITO contend with. From no source has
there been greater cooperation than
that Of the state board Of agriculture,
each member OF which is earnest in
MS support for the Improvement OF
| the highways o. the state. The &C.
qulrement and dissemination Of
knowledge throughout the state Of
the condition OF roads is realized to
be very essential by the Inspector,
very new to the public a great deal
OF confidence has been imposed
and although the department is yet
therein, especially by the rural ele-
ment. ~*33
Speaking Of the duties and the
work OF the. state boardSof agricul-
ture' this morptng, Mr.. Williams
! said:
The Office of State Highway In
spector was created by the last ses-
| sion of the legislature in order that
some one mi gassave his entire time
to the study ofswhighway legislation
The work required Of this official,
while of itself not burdensome in
order to fulfill 1.-THE literal require
ments Of the law, yet is or such a
nature that no one can bring about
the best results without having the
! help and cooperation of the bust
| ness men throughout the State.
| individual effort, and organized eff
fort. Indfviduar cooperation and
| organized cooperation.
Every man In West Virginia who
! is interested in road Improvement
should make 1T HIS duty to study the
road question -ia4Ais immediate sec
| ton of the state and to present his
| ideas in writing TO the Highway In
spector. Each Official who has been
! entrusted with the welfare of the
public should d6"i&n he can to further
| the cause. EverS6 state board and
every organization! Of business men
whether state or local, should assist
with the advancement of this i'm
portant work. ~, u.
"TShe West Virginia State Board Of
Agriculture was the first organiza-
ton, outside the farmers secret or
ganization, the Grange, who took up
this work in systematic order. Years
before the office Of Highway Inspec-
tor was created the State Board Of
Agriculture was preparing the way
by sending institute instructors, out
to the farmers institutes, who would
talk roads, and road Improvement
The work was carried on in sys-
tematic way for years past During
the 1906 season of Institutes, by au-
thority of the board the road ques-
ton was made special feature for
every farmers institute. Secretaries
Of Institutes and instructors were or
dered to present this subject every
where. The people throughout the
state became enthusiastic. The
| teachers Institutes took up the sub
| ject. Many strong resolutions were
adopted by these organizations, ask
ing that the legislature pass some
| kind Of road Improvement laws. The
| West Virginia Good Roads Associa-
ton was also, through it's president,
Hon. Jas. II. Stewart, helping to ad-
vance the cause in every possible
way. -. i.s
"On account Of varied conditions
in West Virginia the legislature was
Of the opinion that some fnvestiga-
ton would be necessary before max
ing any radical changes IN our pres
ent system. The Office of State
Highway Inspector was created for
! this purpose. After the creation of
the Office, and even after the appoint
ment was made the Board Of AgficuE
ture continues to support the cause.
"At the last meeting of the Board
which was held n'Efeeh brier county
large part Of the time was taken
in discussing planB' Tor the future
campaign in the road business. The
members Of the Board are enthnsi-
astic advocates for 'bebter roads, and
as body are ready to do anything
in their power to advance the cause
These men are the official representa-
tives of the farmers and are Oh
course trying TO represent their in
terests but they are doing more than
= that. They are earnestly endeavor.
| ing toae]evatc he condition and ad-
vance the int"reststof all classes Of
our people. This Board has offered
to the Highway inspector many ad,
vantages which could hardly have
been expected Of another department
, OF the state government, and further
] am convinced that this State Board
OF Agriculture expects to see this
: work through TO a successful end.
The members Of the Board Of Ag-
r1culture ar" as follows: E. J.
Humphrey, Of Wood county; Abram
, McCoIloch, Of Ohio county; M. v
brown Of Putna6o county; r. e
Thrasher Of Greenbrier county; w
d. Iinn, Of Barbour county; II. A.