Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-08-21

of the 1G, 900, 900 horses and mules the
farms could be dispensed with. But with a
reduction OF only one eighth in the number
of draught animals there would be a saving
each day Of IA, 600 tons of hay and 750, 900
bushels of oats, representing a cash saving
OF nearly $l14, 600, 600 each year, saying
nothing about the interest on the invest
ment In the animals.
This writer argues with reason that good
roads would also reduce to minimum the
wear on vehicles, and would effect an i'm
portant saving III time. The hours in
volved in hauling heavy loads to market
over rough roads is seldom considered, but
it makes large additions to the cost of
years management of the farm. An i'm
portant item would be the greater comfort
and convenience to the farmer and his
family, and this is no small consideration
either when it is rememb ered with what dis
comforts farmers are sometimes obliged to
contend.
MIR. Potter goes on to show, how good
roads add greatly to the value of the ad
| iacent farming lands. He says there are
800 abandoned farms in New Jersey, and
not one of them is in Union county, where
there il n system of macadam roads In
that county, too, farming lands are valued
at 5000 per acre, against $50 for the rest OF
| State. With good roads leading to them, it
is believed that majority of the farms
now lying idle would he quickly occupied
| and il this Is so, Vermont as well as other
| New England States have a lively interest
| in the subject.
Tho arguments for better roads are well
summed up in the following extract
What is the commercial value of these high
| class roads: 1t is difficult to estimate 1t; and
| We're we told We could scarcely believe. Tho
| nimbc-W4ttcd Frenchmau spends eight cen
| millions of dollars per year to keep his roads
| IN good repair. lie will tell you tho reason for
this in two words ut pays" lie knows that
! horse can draw twice ms much load on the
| surface Of macndam zed road as upon dirt
| rond in its best condition fOu. times much
when the dirt road is IN its average state. and
| ten times as much as " hen the dirt road IS
! TUNED to mud by the rains Of falkland spring.
| llo viii tell you that good roads will increase
| the value Of your farm; shorten the distance
| TO market; save time, wagons, harnesses,
! horses; enlarge the territory which con
/ tributes to tue home market; quicken eocial
/ communication, and add to the wealth OF the
! ln1iNlIuHl ana the state. me American
! farmer Vii doubt, but the Frencuman knows
/ lie las tried both ways. The writer has before
/ hlm letter received from fricnt in Paris
/ some weeks ago in which extended reference
| is made to the roads OF the republic. few
! brief quotations would be here nIpropriate
| "tHrrIers' wagons still make week ~ and semi
| weekly trips to the cities from towns thirty
| MId even sixty miles distant. The
/ tires Of these vehicles are usually wider than
/ mt home. Three or four inches is the average
/ width, and there Is law iurbiddjnC tires to he
| too narrow. One horse generally pulls
what would DE considered good load for two
| In America and the only limit to The load is
| reached when there IS no space or corner Ieft
| to stow any more burden.