The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-11-01
GOOD ROADS PROPAGANDA.

received a letter from the director OF
the public roads, department of agri
culture, outlining the good roads cam
paign. The letter follows:
Dear Sir: In further explanation
of our plan for cooperation between
the government and the press in an
educational campaign for road i'm
provement, l invite your attention to
the following tentative outline.
1. Practical articles on road build
ing, maintenance and administration
with a question column, as suggested
in our first letter.
g. Following the press articles, the
iudicious distribution of government
publications on various phases of road
work.
3. The organization on the part OF
the local communities of associations
designed to bring about an improve
ment of the public roads in the res
pective counties and townships, these
associations to have definite aim ano
to have sections or committees some
what along the following lines.
(a) Committee on road administra
ton: This committee should ascer
tain the revenue for road purposes
how derived, how expended, what &C
counting system is followed, under
what laws the work is being carried
on: what organization exists; make
recommendations for reform in roao
laws. organization, systems OF account
ing, etc.
(b) Committee on road materials
This committee should ascertain the
location, character, quantity and avail
ability of all road materials in the
county, cost of transportation, anC
make recommendations as to whether
the source of supply should be secured
by the county, and any other pertlnen'
information and suggestions bearing
upon the subject of road materials.
Co Committee on road conStruc
ton and maintenance: This commit
tee should ascertain mileage or al
public roads; classify them according
to amount of traffic and Importance
ascertain what improvement is neces
sary the probable cost; draw up
general plan for the gradual improve
ment of all the county roads along
definite, intelligent lines according tc
the means available. 1t should OBJ
tain data bearing upon all phases OF
road construction and should cooper
ate closely with the committee or
road materials in drawing up It's
recommendation as to the kind anc
amount of road construction to be
undertaken. 1t should make close
study of road maintenance with
view to introducing the best and mos,
economical methods in the treatment
of common roads and should familiar
ize itself with all classes OF roac
equipment and recommend such as
are adapted to the local road condl
lions.
Cd Committee on ways and means:
The aim of this committee should be
to uphold and further the work OF the
other committees by devising plans
for financing the association and fol
CARRYING out the various lines OF
work indicated.
4. The office of public roads, after
the proper organization has been in
augurated as above described, or when
requested by the local authorities, VIII
SO far as it's limited appropriation ano
personnel will permit, assign lecturers
in such manner as will best meet the
requirements of the local situation ano
will further the efforts of the various
committees of the association by as
signing experts on road administra
ton and accounting, road materials
and road construction, who will, under
the direction of the county associa
ton, make a thorough investigation
along the respective lines above sci
forth.
The part of the Office of public roads
in this general plan may be said tc
conform to the following sequence: