The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-06-29
AGRICULTURAL HINTS.
THE FINANCIAL SIDE.

Economical Phases Involved In the Sub
ject of Good Roads.
, This subject of good roads involve
several questions. The principal one
are these: How much is the benefi
derived from good roads? Who get
the benefit? How much does 1t cost
Who pays for it? Who ought to pa,
for It?
Gen. Stone, of the federal depart
ment of agriculture, has found tire,
independent estimates which place tn,
yearly loss to farmers in the United
States from bad roads at about 5000,
00o.o00. equivalent to 81 an acre annu
ally. Capitalized at five per cent, thi.
amount, If saved. would increase the
value of farm land $50 an acre, or to
tai increase of $4,000, 900, 900. As the
total value OF all farms is about $780,,
100000 600 this would be an increase OF
fifty per cent. in their value. As the
total annual value Of farm products is
only S2.600,0o0. 900, one-fourth of Its
value is lost through bad roads.
| Comparisons have also been made
with foreign countries. The English
horse does twice the work of the
American horse, the French horse
three times the work; not because
they are better horses, but because
they travel better roads. Mr.. Wollen
estimates the annual cost of maintain
ing horse at $780,. If only one-fourth
OF the horses In Indiana could be
spared, instead of one-half or two
thirds as in England or France, the
annual saving in horse maintenance
for this state alone would be $50, Ooo,-
900. Prot. Ely holds that poor roads
cost the farmer s15 per horse.
These estimates are none too high.
The gain from good roads when once
they are completed will make the most
cautious statistics seem fabulous. But
there are two or three special points to
be considered. The tremendous fall In
prices of farm products in recent years
is heavy drawback to road improve
ment Farm products have fallen in
prices even more than the roads have
benefited the farmer. In 1889, accord
ing to the reports of the secretary of
agriculture, the average value of the
va - r. ONuSt AAA t1C - Aittu OLdLeS WAS
Sl1.9i per acre; in 1893 it was 1921 per
acre, fall of 81 per cent. Oats fell
from S1l.4S per acre in 1882. to Sc. So
per acre in 1893, 40 per cent; wheat
yielded Sl2 per acre in 1882, only ST. 16
in 1898, fall of nearly so per cent.
But the cost of production, according
to the estimates of %, 600 farmers Is
SLIGO per acre-sl2.39 in Indiana
nearly double the price received for
the product. Horses, which in 1882
averaged SOL head, are only S4S in
1894, fall Of 81 per cent. in 81 years.
with horses SO, cheap and grain still
cheaper to feed them, it is not likely
that farmers can spend much money in
building roads to economic horse
flesh.
AS a result of this universal fall in
products, the values of farm lands have
fallen correspondingly. Consequently
a large part of the stone and gravel
roads which have been built during
the last fifteen years have not served
to raise the value of abutting farm
as should be expected from
the estimates ! have quoted, but have
merely protected it from the universal
fall of all such property. In many |
cases even the benefited farm lands
have actually fallen in value, notwith-
the advent OF the hard road. |
Closely connected with this is anoth-
n point to be noted, namely, that it
axes several years for farmers to real
re the increased value which good /
'oads bring. In order to take advan-
age of good roads the farmer must
ldopt more intensive method of cul-
ivation. Must introduce crops for
which there is market demand, must
invest in more machinery and nipple
nents. All OF this requires time, and
Meanwhile the farmer is compelled to
'ay his assessments in cash derived
rom the sales of deprecated products.
/ do not intend, however, to hold
hat farmers are not benefited
y good roads. Indeed, they are high
Y benefited relatively If their farm
alues remain even stationary and do q
OF decline, since there Is almost no mar !
ct at all nocadays for farms Uitjaout such
'dds. What l maintain is this, that
lrmers under the present fall in
rices of farm products and farm lands
annot aft rd to bear all the expense of
uilding The county roads, as they
ave done in the past. If we are to
ave good roads the cities must help
lie farmers.
The objection is made that cities
ave their own heavy expenses for
aiding and maintaining their streets,
which the farmers do not contribute,
I'd, therefore, the farmers should not
* them for help in constructing their
'untry roads. The answer is that
lily the main gravel and macadam
ads are contemplated under the New
rsey and similar laws, which might
operly be called county or state +
ads, and that If cities have streets to n
aintain, farmers have township and G
oss roads to maintain, to make con- "
ctions with the pixies. The town o
FPS of Indiana tax their property o
Tners 10 to Is cents on the 500 for II
aintaining their own dirt roads, and b
additional special tax for new Il
ads, while the city of Indianapolis 3
$ tax for the care of its streets and
ecial assessments for new streets
ston spends 16 cents on the 500 val =
ton for care of streets. The one or !,
Is the other, leaving the great thor !,
ghfares connecting the cities and :
lagos as proper charge for all in I,
nmon. :,
Al i -