Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-07-06
ENORMOUS COST OF BAD ROADS.
More Than Double the Annual Road Tax
Sunk In the Mud.

Shpfc hhAn Doupfe tue annual ISuau nj
Sunk In the Mud.
Nearly 900 merchants, markctmen,
legislators, members of the League of
American Wheelmen, county and state
road improvement associations. and
farmers, editors. city and county of
ficials, bankers and others Mt 3i3 cities
and towns in % states east Of the Rocky
mountains have sent replies to Brad
streets inquiry as TO the condition of
neighboring country roads, the effects
Of the same on prices Of agricultural
products and farm lands. on mercantile
collections. interests aud discount rates.
and to kindred inquiries.
An attempt was made to arrive at
uniform basis for reporting the per cap
ita country road tax in all states covered
by the report. but conditions underlying
the raising of funds for road improve
ment differ in SO many instances that no
generalization from replies to this qnes-
tion is possible. Ii remains 10 he stated
that with direct county or state appro-
priatons for country road improvement.
such as prevail in some portions Of the
east, the best class of roads are Il result
with little friction or disagreement At
the south and southwest. where are
found the farming ont Of road improve
ment to tollgate companies, the system
of working county prisoners on country
roads, direct road tax and the requr-
ing Of men Of from 81 to 80 years of ago
or thereabouts 10 work from two to six
days on the roads each year. or the paw
ment Of what is regarded as an equiva-
lent sum OF money-whorc all these svs-
TENS ot improving roads are employed
results shown are far from satisfactory.
From Maiueto Texas and from Georgia
10 Minnesota prices of farm products
have been advanced undulv becaus,. Of
delays 10 interior wagon traffic w II avy
roads. In comparatively few instances
no advance Is reported because .sunl
roads have te,u in existence for num-
ter "t years. thus leading slrulcnts
70 report mo effect" on prices Of agricul-
tural staples dUo to had sals Quota
ti1ns FOR potatoes. hay butter and eggs.
and almost all farm products. are iuclud-
cd among those Specified. In many in
stances prices VI these products hayo
been high in cities and towns. owing to
s,,r,.;,,. a,,,1 I'LL, ,,
bayo ,,,.r,,i,,.1 i.;,, =, -,,. :, ,,1,.,' .,,t
sell his surplus. would have becu Able TO
pay his road tax from the extra profit.
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in..s with c.untrv ,,arrl.,rt. WIN,
ia, r,,..- In li.r.-,r, L, ,.,,,,,.,.,., ,.,.,..
arr. la~.-,},- influenced ~ ,t,., l.,-ii..,
of 1nal.r, ly n,d r.ads arJ IL, ,a,,I
ency amnn, Inuks j. IA e., rs,,rr.-,
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COMMUNICATION, whar, rra,r,.t nt,c,,.in,
i no. n,y,u
Peyhars the most ambitions on.st;,,
ano,., ,ug.a s.,,. o,,t ,.,. ,t,t ,.E:.T.
asked far III. ..,.,al 5ir.ct srd ;r5,,..,
.yc.ss ro.. ,,rrall, !, f,r,r.r. ,.,I
country r..--b,r,s i, ,,,,r
had roaI. l.,aus,of j.l.,.,.,i .r,rr..-,,,..
ya.,,t, +r,ffic n, ~ ~. 49,, e,r,,,,..,i..
discounts c.l;.c.iar. ...r ~,nI
nificnp, fn notc tb,r v.i,t.. H., ,.,,,.,.''.