y^ NOV 6 1918
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On June 4th and 5th, 1914, the first annual Road Bee Day was observed
in Michigan. Unfortunately it rained very hard quite generally over the
state on one of these days, but other days were appointed by the different
road associations to finish the work so well begun. On the whole, much
good resulted to the roads of the state and in many localities the community
interest in the common roads was greatly revived.
The amount of money raised by direct taxation and annually expended on
the rural highways of the state is rapidly increasing. In 1901 the highway
taxes were less than two and a half million dollars, while in 1914 the highway
taxes had increased to $6,849,745.74. This does not take into account bond
issues and private donations which would increase this sum to at least seven
and one-half millions of dollars, but it does represent an annual increase of
more than three hundred thousand dollars in the road taxes of Michigan. The
greatest significance, however, attaches to the fact that more than two-thirds
of this money was raised by direct vote of the farmers at the annual town
meetings and was expended on the local highways under township super-
vision. These figures speak volumes for the growing interest in better roads.
While the state has aided in the building of some three thousand five hun-
dred miles of well constructed highways, and is planning to extend this work
very rapidly in the future, the common dirt roads always will constitute the
greater portion of our road mileage, and they need constant attention to
keep them even in such “reasonably safe and passable condition” as the
highway laws of Michigan require.
Knowing that the various good roads associations, as well as the majority
of people in Michigan, are anxious to extend the work of road improve-
ment so as to include all of our road mileage, and believing that specially ap-
pointed road days are a great stimulus to the work, I, Woodbridge N. Ferris,
do ask that the people of the State of Michigan set apart Thursday and
Friday, June 10th and 11th, as “Road Bee Days,” and, so far as possible,
turn out and work under such competent supervision as may be available on
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the highways of the state in such manner as shall be most conducive to
their betterment.
Given under my hand and the Great
Seal of the State this first day
of June, in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and
fifteen, and of the Commonwealth
the seventy-ninth.
Governor.
By the Governor:
(9.0/ewava &M/a/ s
Secretary of State.
THE Governor is INDEBTED TO FRANK F. Rogers, STATE HighwAY CommissionER, FoR THE FoREGoins PRoclamATIon.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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