Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-10-04
WILL GOOD ROADS PAY9
The Figures in This Article Give an
Affirmative Answer.


The question of roads and their i'm
provements have received. within the
last two years, n great deal of con-
sideration, and while volumes have
been written, tests made OF materials
and samples of roads built yet there is
room for further discussion and con-
sideration. The problem at the present,
of vital Importance, is not so much
whether it is advisable to improve our
roads in permanent and systematic
mapner, but will we profit by the in
vestment? VIII such roads pay their
first cost and subsequent maintenance?
As an illustration of this we submit an
estimate which we have prepared for
improving 175 miles, being the road
mileage. at the present maintained, in
the township of Yarmouth, in the
county of Elgin, which is the closest
to us:
l75 miles cost 81 500 per mile $3.50 90
Equal annual payments per cent. -.
Maintenance, $50 per mile ............. $500 90
Total yearly payment ;-....-.......-. 2l,7l6 IS
Present system. including statute Ia
Dor ~ q per day day ..,..... qoco 90
s21.7l6 IS
Total acreage, in township, 10000
Assessed value, s., 700, 900; per 100 acres,
SO, $50. Estimated actual value, S4,-
100000. Extra rate required for annual
payment, AZ mills. Estimated increase
in value of property, 10 per cent,
s400, ,000
In constructing 175 miles of stone
road, so per cent. of s157, 500 would
be expended for labor that could be
performed by the ratepayers; this
would equal 1925 for each 100 acres
The roads would cost S315, of
which s157 500 would be spent in the
township. The property would be in
creased in value S400, 900. Taking
these figures into consideration, the
township would be benefited to the
extent of s242, 500 over and above the
cost of construction of the road. In
estimating the increased value, we are
Satisfied that we have placed it at a
very low figure, furnishing, as the
roads will, sure means of transporta-
tion every day in the year, which must
prove the profit of the investment to
the farmer, to the merchant and to the
commerce of the world.
various. Fertility being constant, it
is the accessibility of market that fixes
the value of tillable land. 1t is the
facilities for transportation afforded
by her network of railways that has
given Ontario her wealth of agricul-
ture. Without such means the vast
resources of our country would be al
most valueless. And so we claim that
the same law by which a railroad
gives value TO real estate will also
hold when n hard road completes the
transportation system from farm to
shipping station. For all practical
purposes, that piece Of land has been
moved several miles nearer the mar
kets of the world, and at times it has
been rescued from the dead sea of des-
olation and anchored to a present civ
ilization. Its fortunate possessor, no
longer at the mercy of the barometer,
can go where he pleases and come
when he gets ready. His produce he
can sell when the prices are best, and
Is not like his mud-bound brethren,
compelled to wait the pleasure OF sun
shine and shower, and then in some
halcyon days, when the roads are
good, is not like him compelled to
force his product upon an unwilling
market at whatever price crowded
warehouse. elevator or railroad may
dictate. His teams, instead of being a
heavy expense, and of little use from
four to six months In the year can be
profitably employed every day, and
that, too, with less wear and tear of
vehicles, less loss of time, and less
danger of crippled horses than in at
tempting TO fathom n bottomlcss some
thing sometimes called public high
way. True, you can sometimes haul
in winter on dirt roads just as well as
any other, but the benefits to be de-
rived from this are largely offset by
the fact that such a state of affairs Is
so uncommon, so unlocked for that
You are totally unprepared TO take ad-
vantage of It, Besides, 1t Is only
question of few degrees of the ther-
mometer, when the hard frozen dirt
returns to its original Elasticity,
and the so called road becomes
neither thing OF beauty nor Joy for
ever, nor even a fit associate to the
progress, the civilization and the
christianity of the nineteenth century.
But with the change to solid roads all
uncertainty vanishes. The distance to
market Is n constant factor every day
in the year. No paralysis of business,
no stagnation OF trade, no slow collec-
tions, because the farmer is stuck In
the mud. He has taken his riRhtful
place in the business world, and Is in
creasing profits by decreasing cost OF
production. His hauling Is done when
crops do not need, or on account Of the
weather, cannot receive his attention.
1t Is done at less expense as the loads
are larger and are hauled In less time.
He receives for the product OF his skill
and toll that price allotted by that
supreme law OF finance, supply and de-
mand, and is no longer at the mercy of
greedy spectators. and glutted mar
kets. And II the cost of these roads be
not in excess OF what Is absolutely
necessary, and be Mt all fairly dis
tributed among those benefited, IL iy
our firm belief that many miles could
be constructed at direct financial
profit To say nothing of the mel ntal and
moral Improvement which might arise
from the closer association OF village
and country life, to say nothing OF the
fact too often forgotten in this rush
ing age, that man is not mere ma
chine successful most, as most he
gains, and boards Of gold, but is ma do
TO live In the fullest sense OF that term
to enjoy the sights and sounds Of ma
turc, to love the beautiful. To revere
his Maker not alone with selfish aim,
but with that broadencd view which
most rejoices when others are the most
glad W. Campbell, c. f., In Mu-
nicipal World.
ENsILAGE has worked It's way TO q
prominent position among feeds for
cows on it's merit The cow was get
ting wonders ont of cnsilape when sci