Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-01-29
81 A YEAR In ADVANCE
The Economy of Good Roads.

In spite OF the fact that the Northern
States are fairly gridironed with rail-
way tracks the Road Inquiry Bureau
OF the Department of Agriculture at
washington declares in recent report
that the average wagon haul of all
products to markets and railway sta.
tons is SO miles, and that in the exist.
Ing condition of the country roads the
average cost per ton for hauling is %
cents per mile or trifle less than 81.
20 per ton for the average distance. 1t
does not require an expert mathema-
tician to figure out that at these rates
the total cost of hauling the annual
product of the country will reach close
to billion of dollars.
ahere are two very significant facts
suggested by these figures. The first
Is, that no matter how great the rail-
way development may be the agricul
tural products of the country will have
TO be hauled long average distance
over country roads. The second is.
that any important reduction in the
cost of hauling must depend upon
the construction and maintenance of
good roads. Twenty five cents a ton is
an unnecessarily expensive rate, but
with roads over which the average load
can not exceed one ton per team of
TWO horses or mules the rate can not
be reduced. With roadbed that would
permit of two ton loads the rate could
oe.cut in half, and in no other way.
The two essentials of good roads are
surface. The first can only be secured
ih many instances by relocating exist
ing highways with view solely to an
improvement of the grade. The pres.
ent country highways were laid out
originally as nearly as possible on
straight lines, the surveyors taking lit
Tie or no account of the contour of the
country All this will have to be radi.
cally changed as the very first step to-
ward securing good road system, and
lessening of the cost of hauling the
agricultural staples to market. Besides
being the first essential it will be the
most difficult of accomplishment The
farmers will protest most vigorously
against having their land bisected by
winding roadways.
Inc other essential of solid roadbed
with smooth surface should not be
very difficult of realization. The steam
stone crusher and the steam roller have
wrought revolution in the art of good
ROAD building as well as great reduc-
ton In cost. The successful employ-
ment of convicts upon the roads in the
South suggests the introduction of a
heretofore practically useless branch
Oh iaoor into this much needed line of
puoilc Improvement. Tramps and con-
vlcts can not be abolished, but they
can be made to earn their living and
serve the public in much needed and
very useful improvement by putting
them to work in the construction OF
permanent highways. In this calling.
TOO, convict labor would be less likely
to come into conflict with the organized
labor OF the country than if employed
at any branch of productive industry.
but the prelude to revised grades and
SOLD roadbeds constructed by modern
machinery operated by convict or other
labor must be the realization by the ag.
rlcultural community of the economy
OF good roads. This secured the easy
grades macadamized roadbeds will fol-
low Without this no other improve
ment is possible. Farmers are opposed
TO high taxes, but the knowledge that
the average cost of hauling their pro.
ducts to markets or railway stations is
twenty five cents per ton per mile
should convince them that this is the
most burdensome tax imposed upon
them. They should study the good
road problem with view to the reduc-
ton OF their real tax burdens.-New
York Advertiser,