The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-05-31
MONEY IN GOOD ROADS.
How Improved Highways In Indiana
Have Enhanced Farm VAL


Have enhanced Farm VAL
Many persons are accustomed .
when approached with project for
good improvement. to put the mat
ter off as they would a luxury
"until better times. While they
acknowledge that better public
highways would be a very nice
thing at certain seasons Of the year,
it never seems to have dawned upon
them that to improve the roads
would be an investment just like
raising higher grade stock or using
improved and labor saving machin-
cry, which would soon pay for itself.
Unfortunately this class of people
have been in the majority both in
town and country, where solid
roads are most needed, and their
want of progress has seriously clog
ged many an enterprise of value to
the community.
1t has long been known in gem
eral way that no better outlay of a
few hundred dollars could be made
by the farmer or country merchant
than in building rocks or gravel
roads, but attempts to reduce the
practical value to dollars and cents
have seldom been made. A gen.
tleman in northern Indiana recent
" undertook to find ont what farm,
ers themselves thought of the mat
| ter. In answer to his inquiries
letters were received from farmers
in 40 counties of the state, some of
which were provided with turn
pixies and some not. Some of
them took IA very pessimlstic view
of the road improvement, and some
were unduly elated over the posses
sion of splendid highways. The
average was ia ken OF the various
propositions, however, just as the
replies came in, and the result is
extremely interesting.
The farmers estimated that by
reason of the roads already improv-
ed their lands had increased in
value an average of SEAS an acre,
one enthusiast placing it at 100 per
cent. If all roads were improved,
the increse was estimated at 50 an
acre. So the increse of value alone
on each section of land would
amount to IS, 760, or enough to
macadamize four miles, which is
twice as much road as section con-
talns. That is one phase of the
question. The annual loss due to
poor roads was placed at rs II
cents an acre, which is manifestly
too low. Accepting it as correct,
however. the loss from poor roads
IN five years would amount to 81
432 for each section, or enough to
build two miles of good roads at
1,216 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 gam if you did, is $4,000 for
every GAO 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 Il
great economy of time and force
in transportation between farm and
market. He would be able to take
advantage of market fluctuations in
buying and selling. He could do
the hauling of farm products and
commodities in the time of greatest
leisure. The wear and tear upon
horses, harness and vehicles would
be greatly reduced. The market
value of his farm would be greatly
enhanced, so that, at the lowest es-
innate, his 800 acres would be
worth 50 $50 more, while at least
$3.50 would be saved every year.
These are facts brought out by
Mr.. W. G. Latta in the journal
known as Paving, and they are
worthy the closest attention by
farmer and townsman alike.