The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-03-08
Good Roads Increase the Price OF Farm
ing Lands.

ing Lands.
The prosperity and enterprise OF com
munity can be estimated in no better way
than by its roads. III kept roads denote
slothful condition cf public affairs and a
lack of energy and public spirit on the part
OF tue citizens. AS the business Of neigh
borhood increases there ia more CONSTANT
hauling, and stone roads become Il necessity.
Apart from the convenience of a road which
may be Travelled with comfort al any season
of the year, such roads greatly enhance the
value of lands lying near them, and the in
crease in the assessment of these lands lowers
the tax rate and thereby benefits every tax
payer in the county.
Ordinary country roads are the pleasantest
to drive over when properly shaped, but they
will not withstand continuous travel and
heavy hauling, and consequently, in all the
older States, where regard is had TO public
convenience and economy, the main arteries
of travel are macadamized. Herein Hartford
we have arrived at time when many of our
roads, with the immense amount of travel
there is on them, can no longer be kept in a
passable condition in the ordinary method
pursued of blowing out ditch on either side
of the road and throwing the earth therefrom
into the middle. Turnpike roads are expen-
sive and it would be injudicious to macadam'
ize all of the roads in the county, but the
principal thoroughfaIes should at any rate
| be put in condition in which they could be
used at all seasons.
The value of good country roads, says the
Baltimore Sun, is strkingly illustrated in the
case of Madison county, Alabama of which
Huntsville is the county seat. That county
has in its limits several macadamized roads
SO its people have felt both the need and the
blessings of such roads. The Huntsville
Mercury says the result is that the land which
has the benefit of the turnpike sells readily
for $50 or 500 an acre, while that which has
no such advantage sells for. only from $15 &c
$50 an acre. So well convinced are the peo
Pile OF Madison Of the value of good roads thai
the county has obtained permission from the
Legislature of that State to issue its bonds tc
the extent of $3.50, 900 for the purpose ofbuild
ing 1870 miles OF we'll graded and macadamiz
ed roads in its midst, so located as to give the
greatest good to the greatest number in the
matter OF reaching market.
The West Chester Jetersondn also has The
following paragraph, showing the advantages
of turnpike roads to that community:
"Tredyffrin township is waking up to the
advantage of good roads. Eight years ago g
public meeting of the taxpayers was calleC
and after q stormy dispute it was decided tC
pike mile or SO of the public highway year
~. That year two miles were piked anC
every year since a mile or so has been SINH
larly improved. The road tax levied was
never more than At mills and this year it was
only three mills. The farmers are turning
out and improving the roads themselves at {
proper season of the year and hence bettel
highways arc the result everybody is happy
and farm land is increasing in value"
The Minneapolis Farm, Stock and HON,
likewise argues that good turnpike roads in
crease the value of farm lands more than dc
additional railroads. Itsays:
"Wagon roads, so pked or stoued as TO bt
good at all seasons of the year, running ten OF
]
more value to the town and its business in
terests than is an additional railroad, or ever
two or three of them. Tue best points fol
local business are towns which have one rail
road running to q good terminal market, OIL
! in the direction of the country's principa
commerce, and with two or more good per
mancnt wagon roads running into well-settlet
rural districts. There are not a few town!
in the country which have stone pixies run
ming in two or more directions from them
and every town 80 favored is thriving one
its business men are all prosperous. On the
contrary, the country is full OF railroad juno
tons, at which are located the dullest, sleep
lest villages exlant. With waning crazt
for railroads-which is sure to come-will bt
an increasing one for better wagon roads, ant
the towns which first catch on" will rear
the greatest advantage"
The lands in Hartford are not excelled il
natural productiveness by any on the Allan
tic coast, and although they are comparative
ly near the largest cities in the country, oui
farming industries are lauguishing and lane
can scarcely be sold for the value of the build
ings on it. This condition of affairs is no
altogether but it may in some degree be at
tributed TO our roads In other localities
not so favorably situated, but with excellen
turnpike roads, farming land sells readily fol
double the price of our best Hartford land.
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