River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-24
FARM AND GARDEN.
VALUABLE TESTIMONY.
Long Island Farmers Don't Regret None
Spent for Good Roads.

Long Island Farmers Don't Regret Money
Spent for Good Roads.
The total issue of bonds in Queens
county within the past three years,
and before the present improvement
were provided for, for roads and
bridges on account of the county and
this sum, about onc-ha,f are county
bonds and the balance are bonds issued
by the various towns.
The interest on these bonds is in the
neighborl ooI of 100000 year. The
question is, has It been good invest
ment for the taxpayers? A large real
estate owner at LyEbrook says: IL
voted for the macadamized roads in our
town and they have proved a fine in
vestment. 1t was done most oppor-
timely, just as the bicycle came into
general use, and the Merrick road has
become famous route in consequence.
In the first place, il has led to the in
yestment of perhaps 100000 in the
county for road houses, improvements
to old hotels, etc, and the best of II
is all these investments have proven
profitable, and there is every prospect
of the investment of as much more next
year, in club and road houses to ae-
commodate wheelmen. Then wheel
men spend an immense amount of
money in the town-some say as much
as $4,000 in one day, during the height
of the season. The macadamized roads
have also encouraged carriage riding,
and made the town and country vastly
more attractive in all respects"
Capt. Abrams, an oyster dealer at
East Rockaway, says that one of the
results of the macadamized roads IS
the carting of large quantities of oys-
ters direct to the city. When we have
! packed our oysters in sacks or barrels,
taken them to the depot and paid the
1 freight or expressage upon them, there
is very little profit; but when we put
I them into our wagons and cart them
1 direct to our customers we can make a
7 little money at the business"
The farmers at Valley Stream and
Springfield say the macadamized roads
have extended the market garden re-
/ g;on several miles further from the
city, and have vastly helped the busI-
ness. I'VE can," said one, increase
the size of our load nearly one-third,
and al the same time save considerable
/ time in the round trip to and from the
city" 1t is officially reported that
| nearly 10000 market-wagon loads of
vegetables were brought to Wallabout
market alone last year. This will giv>
some idea of the saving in time and
/ horsefiesh to the farmers of Queens
county.
Along the north side of the island
one of the indirect results of the good
roads has been the abandonment of the
market-wagon train, which formerly
ran between Oyster Bay and way sta
tons to the city. The wagons and
| horses were taken on the train, the
charge for the round trip being four
dollars. An average train carried from
25 to 80 wagons, holding about three
/ tons each. Now the teams are driven
direct to the city, returning with a
load of manure. At recent meeting of
the Farmers club, the matter was in
/ formally discussed IN connection with
the freight rates of the Long Island
| railroad 1t was the opinion OF the
/ farmers present that, until market
| produce could be carried by trolley cars
and manure returned in the same way.
/ the best way to market produce and
get fertilizers was by hauling with
4 horses, and this necessitates good mac
/ adamized or loaned roads.--Brooklyn
Eagle.