The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-06-14
COL. PoPE's APPEAL.
Now In the Hands of the Seuate Commit
tee Oh Agriculture.

Now In the Hands of the Seuatc Commit
tee Oh Agriculture.
The following is copy of the letter
addressed to Senator Hoar by Col A. 4.
Pope, of Boston, relative to the condi.
ton of roads in the farming districts.
Mr.. Hoar had the document read in
open session of the senate, and it was
then referred to the committee on ag-
riculture which, we trust, will act on
its suggestions:
Permit me to call your attention to
the resolution passed by the senate,
April last, directing the committee on
agriculture and forestry to investigate
the condition of the agricultural inter
ests of the United States, and, if found
depressed, to ascertain the causes and
inquire into the proper remedy.
II beg leave TO suggest that one Of
the most potent causes of the depres-
sion of the agricultural interests of the
country is the wretched roads of the
farming districts.
''At the twelfth annual session of the
National Farmers congress of the
United States, held at Lincoln, Neb.,
November 1924, 1892, it was stated:
Throughout the country economical road i'm
provement would save S250,0OO 1000 per year in
the transportation of farm products alone.
There would be other financial gains. BY per-
hitting the farmer to market good part OF his
surplus during the winter and early spring, in
stead of his being compelled to market it near
lv ALI Jyhip fold gihlp tUp million
of the twenty million draft animals in the coun-
try could be dispensed with, and these two
million animals are worth $4,000, 900, while TO
feed them for one year costs II, 100000.
among other advantages of good roads over
poor ones are that heavier loads can be drawn,
and drawn faster, and the difference in the sell
ing price of produce, if carried in wagon over
"a smooth road for one hour, and the same prod.
uce carried over rough road for three hours
is the difference, oftentimes, between profit
| and loss.
ALLOW me to remind you that high
| ways and turnpike roads have repeated
| ly been the subject of investigation in
| parliament, and the report of com,
mittee of the house of commons in 1871
contains much that may be applied to.
day to the subject Of roads in the
United States:
| "The many important advantages to be de
| rived from amending the highways and turn
! pike roads Of the kingdom need hardly to be
| dwclt upon. Every individual In it would
| thereby find his comforts materially mere aset
| and his interests greatly promoted By the
improvement Of our roads every branch of our
| agricultural commercial and manufacturing
| industries would be materially benefited
1 IN mo, bot, bc
diminished in price, the number OF horses
would be so much reduced that by these ant
othef retrenchments the expense OF five million
(pounds) would be annually saved to the plb
| lie The expense of repairing roads and thu
wear and tear OF carriages and horses would
| be essentially diminished; and thousands Of
| acres, the produce of which is now wasted II
| feeding unnecessary horses would be devoted
| to the production of food for man. In shor
| the public and private advantages which wOuiC
| result from effecting that great object--the i'm
provement of our highways and turnpike roads
are of the Greatest value, though from theil
being spread over a wide surface and available
in various ways, such advantages will not be
| 50 apparent as those derived from othel
sources of Improvement Of u more restricted
| and less general nature.
Permit me to further remind yol
that the Massachusetts highway com
mission, in its report recently sub
mitted to the legislature, stated tina
the annual loss to the commonwealth
from bad roads is at least $4,000, 900
and that this sum would be suflicien
to place in good condition the principa
highways of the state. The cost of ;
road built on scientific principles il
many cases is less than that of a roat
constructed on unscientific principles
and the cost of the maintenance of {
good road is trihing compared with thu
cost of maintaining poor one.
THE bill making appropriation TO
the agricultural department for tn,
fiscal year ending June 80, 1894, con
taips a clause relative to investigating
the best methods of roadmal1in!
throughout the United States, but thi
clause does not empower the secretar,
to investigate and report upon til,
pecuniary advantages of good roads t.
the farmers, nor upon the burdens tina
are laid upon agricultural interests b,
bad roads; therefore, permit me to sug
gest that subcommittee be appointed
and be instructed to make an EXTENDED
tour throughout this country for TIA,
purpose of investigating and reporting
upon the subject of wagon roads in re
lation to the agricultural interests o
the country, because bad roads are tn,
direct cause of hundreds of millions o
dollars being annually lost to the farm
ing communities.