The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-01-25
DOES IT PAY TO BUILD GOOD
ROADS:
Greensboro PatriOt.)

The above question can be answered
by carefully studying and noting the
effects produced upon the conditions Of
those among whom and for whom good
roads have been built. We should then
compare our conditions with theirs. If
our conditions are strikingly similar 10
theirs before Improvement and their real
estate has been enhanced in valuation.
their homes improved, better schools. bet
ter church privileges, accrctlon of wealth
and contentmcnt. after o improve
ment. the above question should be an
Swered III the affirmative. All this may
be set forth by considering two things:
Cost of bad roads and the cost Of good
roads.
The length of this article does not
allow lis to go into the details Of the var
iouS ways by which this cost of bad roads
is produced. For this information the in
torested reader is referred to Bulletin
No. 4. pages 34-3G, North Carolina
Geological Survey.
As these statistics are given by Prof.
Holmes. after careful investigation and
study, their value is undoubtedly high.
On page SO, Bulletin to which refer
ence has been made. Prof. Holmes makes
the following summary Of the cost of
bad roads for the state:
Loss on account of the cost of feel
ing. and less of time by the 134.OOo
country horses and mules in the mid
die and western counties during four
weeks of impossible roads. etc. page
80, 81, 600. 900. Loss on account Of bad
roads. of time and expenses of mainten-
ancc of 100000 country horses and
mules. Oo.OD wagons and harness. ana
wages of 1Oo.OOO transfers during one
month. page "a. S~3.94S.OOO. Loss on ac-
county of bad roads. Of services and eX-
penspS of feeding $4,000 town horses
and services of 12.5O0 teamsters. and
wear and tear on 12,oO wagons and
harness, all Of which, could have been
saved by having good roads and streets.
page 80. S4.531 900. Wasted in working
public roads in taxes and labor, page 30,
S4lO.OOO. Total S1O.519,OOO.
These figures are furnished by Prof.
Holmes, who knew the number of horses.
and mules in these counties. 10.319,-
coo divided by one hundre and three
counties gives S1O2. 126 Fer cent county,
the cost Of bad roads.
This, is the annual sum that would
be saved Guilford county 10y macadam-
lied roads.
England and France each eXpend
eighteen million dollars annually on the
maintenance ana extension OF IlelF SIbltil-
did systems of macadamized highways.
and regard the investment a good one.
But the people of North Carolina, too
poor. as they claim. TO build good roads.
nevertheless bear annually this enormous
burden for the privilege Of doing without
good roads.
SO much for the cost OF bad roads. Is
this all? If you please, we have con-
sidered only the loss accruing through
transportation. Nothing has been said
about the loss sustained by keeping CAPT
talists from settling among us:about our
loss in not growing such things which
could be grown and marketed ut a profit,
if the roads would permit; about the
loss produced by dopopulating the conn-.
try. to obtain advantages in the town.
which advantages good roads have sup
Piled in the countries of improved roads.
Let lis take a case in Randolph conn
ty: In surveying the road from tho
Brokaw Kennels to Archdalc. Prof.
Bandy found it necessary to locate the
road across the farm of Calvin Craw-
ford.
When Mr.. Crawford was approached
in regard to the matter he wanted fifty
dollars damage. Being told that the
road would enhance the valuation Of his
place. he willingly gave way for the
road to pass across his farm without
any remuneration.
When the road was completed he told
Prof. Bandy that he would not nave tho
road removed for 5000.
Brokaw had offered Mr.. Crawford
$4,000 for his place. Since the road has
| been built Mr.. Crawford has refused S.
300. an increase in valuation of - per
cent.
A letter from the engineer Of roads in
MecllenIurg county to Prof. Bandy
shows that road Improvement in the
county has increased the valuation of
land - per cent and 80 per cent.
Union, New Jersey, in 1889, issued
F, $500. 900 worth of bonds at 1 per ceGt.
One improved road ran within one mile
of Il farm of twenty acres Oh which WAS
q farm house.
BEFORE the road was built this farm
sold for Sc, 600. Within one year after
/, Improvement the owner refused 100000.
:, (Sec Bulletin No. +. page 40, Geolosi-
cal Survey.)
We are therefore forced to the conclu-
sion that it pays to build good roads.
! THE NEW COTTON.