The Russellville Democrat., 1892-04-28
GOOD ROADS ESSENTIAL TO THE
 PROSPERITY OF THE STATE.
IAn Essay Written by J B Mcdonald, oi
 Hendrix College

Just at this time there is a spirit of un- rest in the great heart of society The common people are at loss to know what to do, where to look for help, where to cast anchor. There are many solutions of the problem. but no theory or political harrangue will settle this great disturb ance. The recent reduction in the price of cotton seems to be the immediate cause. Now, whatever affects the producing classes affects equally those who consume their products, i. e, in properly regulated society. So, since we cannot raise the price of cotton, the only alternative is to lessen the cost of production. The price of cotton, corn, wheat, etc, are not fixed values. We.can not say that the price of cotton is either high or low absolutely, but only so when compared with the cost of production. There are several ways in which the farmer may re duce his expenses, but the one now under consideration is the improvement of our highways and country roads So far as this affects the cost of marketing the products of the state, to that extent does it affect the prosperity of the state Arkansas produced in 1884, ], ,542 ,000 bushels of oats; 513, GOO bales of cotton; ], 1885 ,O00 bushels of wheat, and g, ,465, 900 bushels of corn, besides inn mense quantities of lumber, fruit of all kinds. and melons, to say nothing of minor interests. To market all this cost an inn mense sum of money. If any considerable per cent of this vast amount could be saved, it would tell wonderfully upon the finances of the country shall not at tempt to give the savings as whole, but having been raised on an Arkansas farm, can give a few simple, but practical illus trations, showing that road improvement will greatly reduce this expense. Col. Pope says, "a road is no better for prac- tical purposes than it's worst place, as q chain is do stronger than it's weakest link. Y As call to mind the high hills, deep bogs, unbridged streams, etc, uncounted in marketing our produce, l realize how very much time and expense could have been saved by proper attention to the road beds of the country. For instance, a good team marketed two bales of cotton at a load, which required two days to make the trip. It cost when hired $2 a bale to mar ket it. Now I observe that on these streets and turnpikes team can pull four and six bales. If our teams could have done so, and could on good roads, some body would have saved 8 to $6 on each trip. Again, man living ten miles from market goes in with fifteen bushels of po- tatoes and takes day to make the trip. On macadamized roads the same team would consume less time and force in mak eting thirty bushels. Thus then would be a saving of at least $2, or days work for man and team, on each load, by so much reducing the cost of production.
 So with all the products of our farms, mines and mills The case mentioned is only one in thousands. think it will be conceded that the same team, on macadam ized roads, can market double the amount of produce that it will on the average country road. Proportionately, the same saving could be had in the vast quantity of supplies purchased by the people.
 There is another great loss to the pro ducer not included in the above. On these rough, hilly, muddy roads there is often great injury to stock, wagons and harness, causing loss of time and expense of repairs, all of which come out eff the producer making an extra expense which he often fails to realize as legitimate part of the cost of production; whence he IS liable to engage for years in an unprofit- abis industry and be unable to see why it is so. Now these unnecessary expenses have accumulated until the profits of the small farmer are so reduced that he has been forced, in many instances to abandon bis farm. The statistics show that the number of small farms have decreased from twelve to twenty per cent. in the last thirty years, while the larger ones 500 to 1000 acres-have increased from 300 per cent. to 500 per cent. This means that we are, at this rapid rate, be- coming nation of renters. When you de- prive a citizen of his home you deprive the state of patriot. It is this home-loving spirit that makes our government the pride of the civilized world. The amount of money saved is but part of the blessings occurring to the small farmer. Good roads add so very much to the convenience and happiness of the people, but the lack of these things have been seen to take them to railroad stations, small towns and cities. Every family that leaves the country on this account and they are many-by SO much lessen the support giveE to churches and schools, Who can fail to see that civ ilization itself must suffer under such con ditions
 But the question arises, Who should make these improvementsf" I should say those who are benefited by them It is as important to those living in the towns and cities to lessen the cost of production as to the farmer himself The obliga- ton Is equally upon the consumer and the producer, and since these two classes make up society, it is upon society at large, upon the states. Wherever this spirit of unrest, of discomfort, is found 1t is highly important to the prosperity of the state that it be removed.
 The next question Is: How is it to be aecomplishedf In what manner can we best secure the desired endsf Lack of means is the worst difficulty encountered. If we can secure even narrow road beds, properly constructed, they will last for many years, and need not cost so very much. The best plan that has come to my knowledge, after considerable investiga- ton, is that suggested by Col. Pope in March issue of The Forum. It Is practi- cal, economic, sound, and so nearly my ideal plan, and so far superior to anything else that have been able to fad on the N 2 ..A A