The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-16
ENORMOUS COST OF BAD ROADS.
More Than Double the ANIMAL Road Tax
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
fcials, bankers and others at 813 cities
and towns in 2S 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 q
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. 1t remains to be stated
chat 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 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 a to 90 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
tons for potatoes, hay, butter and eggs,
and almost all farm products, are includ-
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 to
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 a disposition to curtail ac-
commodations where prompt attention
is not given.
Perhaps the most ambitious question
among those sent out was that which
asked for the "totsl direct and indirect
excess cost annually to farmers and
country merchants in your vicinity of
bad roads, because of delayed or irregular
wagon traffic in its effect on farm values,
discounts, collections, ETC., and it is sig
to note that while the number
Of replies is comparatively few those
which have been received are from ex-
well informed people in all
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 four
replies to the question from
3 single county ranged within $4,000
Of an alleged grand total direct and in
iirect loss there amounting to 100000
per annum from causes as quoted above.
The replies make it plain that one or
TWO years losses in this direction would
come near gridironing the country dis
riots east of the Missouri river with
,oads which would compare faverably
With the best macadamized or telford
venues of large cities anywhere in the
United States. The heretofore prevail
ng estimate of the total annual road tax
# $120, 000, 900 is therefore probably less
han one-half the total annual loss due
% bad country highways.-New York
sporting Times.