Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-07-27
col. PoPE.s APPEAL.
NOW ia the Hands of the senate Commit.
tee un Agriculture.

NOW ia the Hands Of the senate Commit
tee ora Agriculture.
The following IS a copy Of the letter
addressed % Senator Hoar by Col A. a.
Pope. 81 Boston, relative 10 the condi-
ton 81 roads in the farming districts.
Mr. Uoar had the document read in
open session Of the senate, and it was
then referred to the committee on ag-
riculture which. we trust, viii 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.
Il beg leave to suggest that one Of
the most potent causes Of the dcpres-
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 22-24, 1892 it was stated:
THROUGHOUT the country economical road i'm
prOvement would save $4,000 900 per year in
the transportation Of farm products alone.
There would be other financial gains. BY per
hitting ihe farmer 10 market good part Of his
surplus during the winter and early spring, in
stead Of his being compelled 70 market II near
IL all while field work is possible TWO 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 81 10000
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, II carried Ia q wagon over
q smooth road for one hour, and the same prod
uce carried over rough road for three hours
Is the difference, oftentmes, between profit
and loss
ALLOW me to remind you that high
ways and turnpike roads have repeated
~ been the subject of investigation in
parliament, and the report of com
mittee of the house of commons in 1911
contains much that may be applied to-
day to the subject of roads in the
United States:
1.-THE many important advantages 10 be de-
rived from amending the highways and turn
pike roads OF the kingdom need hardly 10 be
dwelt upon. Every Individual in it would
thereby fud his comforts materially increased
and his interests greatly promoted. by the
Improvement OF our roads every branch OF our
agricultural, commercial and manufacturing
industries would be materially benefited
Every article brought 10 our market would be
diminished In price. the number Of horses
would be so much reduced that by these and
othet retreuchments the expense Of five million
pounds would be annually saved to the pub
lie The expense OF repairing roads ana the
wear and tear III carriages aue horses would
DO essentially diminished aue thousands %
acres, the produce Ut which Is now wasted in
feeding unnecessary horses. would be devoted
TO the production % food for mau Til short
the public and private advantages which would
result from effeeting that great oblect-the inns
proqement Of our highways and turnpike roads
--are Of the greatest value, though from thei,
being spread over 3 vide surface ana available
to various ways such advantages win not bs
80 apparent as those derived from other
sources of improvement % d more restricted
sad less general nature
Permit me to further remind you
that the Massachusetts highway com
mission, in its report recently sub
mitted to the legislature. stated that
the annual loss to the commonwealth
from bad roads Is at least S.. 600 900.
and that this sum would be sufficient
to place in good condition the principal
highways of the state The cost Of
road built on scientific principles in
many eases is less than that OF road
constructed ON unscientihc principles,
and the cost of the maintenance of "a
good road is triHing compared with the
cost Of maintaining poor one
'the bill making appropriation for
the agricultural department for the
fiscal year ending june 30, sol, con
tains clause relative to Investigating
the best ms aods of r6admaling
throughout the United States, but this
clause does nos empower the secretary
70 investigates and report upon the
pecnniary advantages Of good roads to
the farmers, nor upon the burdens that
are laid upon agricultural interests by
bad roads, therefore permit me to sug-
gest that a subcommittee be appointed
and be instructed 10 make an extended
tour throughout this country for the
purpose 81 investigating and reporting
upoh the subject Of wagon roads in re-
lation 10 the agricultural interests of
the country because bad roads are the
direct cause OF hundreds of millions OF
dollars being annually lost To the farm
ing communities