Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-07-07
ENORMOUS COST OF BAD ROADS.

Sunk In the Mud.
Nearly 1000 merchants, marketmen,
legislators, members of the League Of
American Wheelmen, county and state
road improvement associations, and
FARMERS, editors, city and county Of
6cials, bankers and others at 313 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 and discount rates,
and to kindred inquiries.
An attempt was made to arrive at 8
uniform basis for reporting the per cap
tia 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 ques-
ton is possible. It remains to be stated
that with direct county or state appro-
priations for country road improvement,
such as prevail in some portions of the
east, the best class of roads are a result
with little friction or disagreement. At
the south and southwest, where are
found the farming out of road improve
ment to tollgate companies, the system
OF working county prisoners ON country
roads, direct road tax and the requir-
ing of men OF from 81 to so years Of age
or Whereabouts to work from two to six
days on the roads each year, Or the pay
ment Of what is regarded as an equiva-
lent sum of money-where all these sys-
TENS of improving roads are employed
results shown are far from satisfactory.
From Maine to Texas and from Georgia
to Minnesota prices of farm products
have been advanced unduly because Of
delays to interior wagon traffic by heavy
roads. In comparatively few instances
no advance is reported because good
roads have been in existence for num-
Der of years, thus leading correspondents
to report mo effect" on prices of agricul
tural staples due to bad roads. Quota,
tions for potatoes, hay, butter and eggs,
and almost all farm products, are inc1ud,
ed among those specified. In many In
stances prices Of these products have
been high in cities and towns, owing to
scarcity, and the farmer, if roads would
have permitted him to get to town and
sell his surplus, would have been able tc
pay his road tax from the extra profit.
The effect of bad country roadways on
mercantile collections, interest and dis
count rates can no longer be questioned
so many of the correspondents have
| pointed out an extremely unfavorable
influence on mercantile collections not
only during the past spring, but in the
spring and fall of preceding years. Many
bankers and others having financial deal
| ings with country merchants explain
| that rates of discount on country paper
are largely influenced to the detriment
of makers by bad roads, and the tend
| ency among banks is to get remunera
| ton for the annoyance of past due obi
cations, with disposition to curtail &C
commodations where prompt attention
| is not given.
Perhaps the most ambitious question
| among those sent out was that which
| asked for the "total direct and indirect
excess cost annually to farmers and
| country merchants in your vicinity o.
bad roads, because of delayed or irregular
| wagon traffic in its effect ON farm values
| discounts, collections, ETC., and it is sig
| nifcant to note that while the number
| of replies is comparatively few those
which have been received are from ex
ceptionally well informed people in AL
instances and lead to the conclusion that
| most of the estimates which have here
tofore been made In public prints and
elsewhere as to the aggregate loss of this
| character have been understated rather
than exaggerated. In one instance fou1
independent replies to the question fron
single county, ranged within $4,000
Of an alleged grand total direct and in
direct loss there amounting to $100,0Ot
| per annum from causes as quoted above
| The replies make 1t plain that one o.
two years losses in this direction would
come near gridironing the country dis
tricts east of the Missouri river will
roads which would compare favorably
with the best macadamized or telfort
avenues Of large cities anywhere In thu
United States. The heretofore prevail
ing estimate Of the total annual road ta1
of $3.50, 000,0 900 is therefore probably less
than one-half the total annual loss due
to bad country highways.-New Yorl
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