Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-10-01
Does 1t Pay to Build rhemY

Specific examples of the benefits ac-
cruing from the building of good roads
are not very plentiful in the United
States, systematic road construction
upon improved plans having thus far
been but little practiccd in this coun-
try; but in all Instances where road Inn
provement has been undertaken the re-
suits lave abundantly justified the en-
pense by cutting down the cost of
transporting farm products to market
and enhancing res! estate values. y
case in point is reported from Union
County. New Jersey, where forty miles
of good rock roads were built in 1889
and 1880, and this illustration is in IL
respect peculiarly appropriate in the
West. for the conditions affecting road
sey. which is for the greater part flat.
with a yielding soil. are much the same
as are to be found on the prairies of
Nebraska.
The forty miles of roads under con-
sidcration cost about $35O.O00. or less
than l per cent upon the valuation of
the property in the county ut the time
they were built. Since they We're COM
pleted farm lands have advanced from
5 to % per cent in value and building
sites from 80 to 300 per cent The addi-
tion in value to the taxable property
through which the roads pass is said
TO have been not less than 81, 100000 in
a year and IL half. and this embraces
less than one-half the territory in the
county. The increase in taxes upon
this sum alone will pay the yearly in
tcrcst on the cost of the roads and leave
enough. If put ut interest. to discharge
the entire bonded debt as it falls due.
The increase in the value of building
sites within 81 short distance of New
York City might he in part accounted
for without considering the improved
roads as 81 factor ut all. but the general
advance in farm lands is due almost
wholly to improved facilities for mar
keting the products of the farm. In
other words. the lands are worth more
because they will yield a greater profit
for the labor of the husbandman. But
1t is not alone the farmer who receives
benefit. Chauncey b. Ripley, n promi-
nent New York lawyer. who resides in
>ile New Jersey county in which these
.oad improvements have been made,
las this to say of them: The evidences
IF improvement are to be seen on every
hand. We have come to regard the en-
.ellcnt roads of Union County as con-
tributing incomparably more to our
present prosperous condition than any
other agency. To one unfamiliar with
our road reform the transformations.
which are real and substantial, would
.eem to he ;he work of enchantment.
The h%usbandman. the mechanic, the
merchant, the general citizen, whatever
his calling or occupation. is satisfied
and delighted with the new road sys-
tenn. He emplatically declares that
the roads are worth more than they
cost, and. therefore. that good roads
pay. This is the opinion. SO far as is
known. of every citizen of Union Coun-
ty. There is no one who would substi-
tute the old condition for the new and
have his money back. This is tile result
of the work of three years"
There is nothing exceptional about
this case. In the main it may he taken
as II fair example of what road inn
provement is capable of accomplishing.
Douglas County has $15O.OOO to spend
i'm road building this year and the tan
payers of the county are certain to de-
rive Il handsome return for their money.
The country road movement is gaining
great force all over the country: on
ventions are being held and organiza-
tiols formed. and the agitation is pro-
recding with vigor and with promise
of practical results wherever it has
been started. Nebraska needs improv-
ed roads as much as any other State,
and 81 more general awakening Of her
people to its Importance is necessary.
Counties. townships and school dis
tricts can carry this work forward
without awaiting the issue of the pres
cnt effort to establish II national road
department.