Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-25
MONEY VALUE OF GOOD ROADS.
The Profit I'm Dollars and Cents From
the Improvement of Highways.

From the Kansas City Times.
Many persons are accustomed, when ap-
proached with a project for road improve
ment, to put the matter of as they would
luxury until better times" While they ac-
knowledge that better public highways
would be a very nice thing at certain sea-
sons OF the year 1t never seems to have
dawned upon them that to improve the
roads would be an investment, Just like
raising higher grade stock or using improv-
ed and labor-saving machinery, which would
soon pay for itself. Unfortunately this class
OF people has been in the majority both in
town and country, where solid roads are
most needed, and their want of progress
has seriously clogged many an enterprise
of value to the community.
1t has long been known in a general way
that no better outlay of few hundred dol
lars could be made by the farmer or country
merchant than in building rock or gravel
roads, but attempts to reduce the practical
value to dollars and cents have seldom been
made. A gentleman in Northern Indiana re-
Gently undertook to find out what the farm
ers themselves thought of the matter. In
answer to his inquiries letters were received
from farmers in forty counties OF the state.
some of which were provided with turnpike
and some not. Some Of them took very
and some unduly elated over the possession
of splendid highways The average. was
taken on the various propositions, however,
lust as the replies came in, and the result
is extremely interesting.
The farmers estimated that by reason OF
the roads already improved their lands nad
increased in value an average OF sofo an
acre. one enthusiast placing II at 100 per
cent If all roads were improved the IN
crease was estimated al - an acre 90 the
increase of value alone on each section OF
land would amount to $o.1G0 or enough TO
macadamize four miles, which is twice AZ
much road as a section contains. Tnat Is
one phase of the question. The annual loss
due to poor roads was placed at 16 10 cents
an acre, which is manifestly too low. Ac-
cepting 1t as correct, however the loss from
poor roads in five years would amount ~
81 49, for each section, or enough to build
two miles of good road at 81, 216 each, which
is considerably more than the average COST
per mile in Indiana. The actual money
| value of good roads, obtained by adding
the loss for not having them to the gain
| II you did, is 5000 for every $40 acres
| and increases by nearly 500 every year.
These are facts, ice-cold and not possible
| to contest With good roads the farmer
| would make a great economy OF time ano
| force in transportation between farm and
market; ne would be able to take advantage
of market fluctuations in buying and selling
he could do the hauling Of farm products
and purchased commodities in the time Of
| greatest leisure; the wear and tear upor
| horses harness and vehicles would be great
| ly reduced The market value OF his farm
| would be greatly enhanced, SO that, at tn
| lowest estimate, his 300 acres would b'
/ worth s. $50 more while at least $50 woult
| be saved every year. These are the fact
| brought out by Mr. w. c. Iatta In the jour
nal known as Paving. and they are worth,
| the closest attention by farmer and towns
man alike.