Mexico Missouri message., 1915-01-14

consist OF the penitentlary, MISSOURI
Training School for Boys, at Boom
Vile; Industrial Home for Girls, at
Chillicothe, and the Industrial Home
for Negro Girls, at Upton. The mere
punishment by combining in these
penal institutions is not the full meas.
ure of the law The state can and
should render a higher service, that
Of reforming as large a per cent as
possible, bringing them back into the
paths of rectitude and good citizen
ship.
Good Roads.
Since the proclamation declaring
two Good Roads Days in Missouri,
in August, 1913, there has been awak-
ened a new spirit for this important
internal Improvement Since that time
some Is states have, by proclamation,
had their annual Good Roads Days."
and some of the foreign countries.
Missouri has $3.50 miles of unim-
proved dirt roads and 54,264 miles of
improved dirt roads. We have 1920
miles of gravel roads and 1,417 miles
of macadam roads. We have $40
miles of sand clay roads and 700 miles
of roads made from chats. We have
about 400 miles of patent surface and
other miscellaneous roads, making
the grand total in the commonwealth
over $4,000 miles Last year there
was placed upon these highways bet
terments valued at approximately
SS,000,000 Under the new inter
county seat drag law, we have about
10000 miles of inter-county seat roads.
regularly dragged by the state, and
upon which during the biennial period
the state will have expended more
than $225,O0O for this purpose, while
the people themselves have placed
thereon special betterments in the
sum of $1,5OO,OOO.
Agriculture.
Aside from handling the official
business of my department and exer-
cising a general supervision and con-
troll over state matters and in the Sc
curing of needed progressive legisla-
ton, have labored earnestly for bet
ter roads, better schools, better tagri-
culture and better community life.
These four things are the achieve
ments which make a state or nation
great in it's citizenship, great in its
agriculture, great in its finances and
great in its commerce Through these
things the dome of Missouri's great
ness will be lifted still higher in the
skies. We know during this period
we have secured better roads and bet
ter schools, and at the same time have
bettered our agricultural interests,
and these things of necessity give us
better community life.
A new message has been carried to
the 10000 farmers of the common
wealth through the labors of the state
board of agriculture, and through the
agricultural college. The agricultural
college of Missouri is recognized
throughout the Union as being the
best in the republic. 1t has grown
year by year until 1t now stands at
the head of all agricultural colleges.
immigration.
By reason of the European war,
bringing about the destruction Of vast
properties in agricultural, commercial
and manufacturing lines, large i'm
migration will set its face toward the
United States. The class of immi-
grants will be far above the average
and many will seek homes in Amer
lea. Among them will be a larger
number than ever before wishing to
engage in agriculture and live stock
pursuits. The door of opportunity in
these countries engaged in war along
these lines has been practically closed
and the future uncertain. Missouri,
! through its immigration department
and in other channels, should secure
great number of the desirable home
seekers and settle them in various
sections of the state.
Public Service Commission.
The public service commission act
abolished the railroad and warehouse
commission, and the public service
commission has been no more ex-
pense to the state than it cost to
maintain the railroad and warehouse
commission. The law creating this
commission is one of the most impor.
tant acts Of the legislature in many
years. A number of other states have
since followed the example of Mis-
souri,, and have modelled and fash
Toned their legislation after the Mis-
souri, act
In Conclusion.
AS the representatives of the peo-
pie, knowing we'll the needs OF the
commonwealth, you will be earnest
and diligent in crystalllzing into pro-
gressive and constructive legislation
those things which we feel certain
will inure to THE benefit of the state.
To bring this about it is necessary
that you be imbued with the spirit of
the new day and Of the new Missouri.
"old things are PASSED away; behold,
all things are become new" Give US
| good, clean, wholesome, progressive
and constructive legislation, common
surate with the day and adequate to