Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-05-26

most cases to lands near the improved
| roads; but in few instances they APP.
| ply to all the lands of the county.
The average increase, therefore, of
| So. 4S per acre is lower than was in
tended for the lands near the improved
| roads.
Second-The estimated average in.
crease per acre that would result from
improving all the public roads is So.
Third-The estimated average cost
of converting the common public roads
into improved highways is $1146 pei
mile.
Fourth-The estimated average an
nual loss, per 100 acres, from poor
roads is S76.2S.
If these estimates are even approxi,
mately correct, they furnish key to
the satisfactory solution OF the ques.
ton of highway Improvement from the
money standpoint. On the basis Of
the last mentioned estimate the aver.
age annual loss per acre from poor
roads is over 76 cents. In five years
the losses would aggregate S2432 for
every section of land, and this sum
would construct two miles at a cost Of
$l226 per mile, which is $40 per mile
above the estimated cost given by the
farmers themselves. The present road
tax which, under existing laws, is
largely thrown away, would, under a
proper system of road maintenance,
doubtless keep improved highways in
perfect repair.
If the foregoing statements are a
near approach to the truth, it follows
that the losses and expenditures which
farmers actually incur on account OF
poor roads would also secure perma.
nently good roads. Can any sane mind
doubt the wisdom of exchanging the
losses, delays, accidents and vexation
of spirit, occasioned by bad roads, for
the comfort and other advantages of
good roads when the cost is the same?
But there is another side to this
question, viz, the increased value Of
land from highway improvement. As
already stated, this increase is esti.
mated by the farmers consulted at SO
per acre. This would enhance the
value of each section OF land S5760,
which is more than double the esti.
mated cost ($2292) of the two miles OF
improved highway, which constitutes
the quota for the section. Just here
the objection may be raised that the
improved roads would not increase the
productive capacity of the land, while
the enhanced commercial value would
increase the taxes. Let us, for the
sake of argument, grant this plausible
but fallacious objection, and then find
what it amounts to. Let US suppose
the increase in appraisement for taxa
-tion to be 81 per acre, and the tax rate
II per cent. This would mean an
annual increase in taxes of five cents
per acre, or So per hundred acres.
Would not our objector, after enjoy
ing the benefits of good roads, be very
willing to give therefore the extra s.,
if necessary? Would he keep the
money and go back to the thraldom OF
mud roads? If so, he has the option
of selling his farm at an advance, ac-
cording to the average estimates of
his brother farmers, that will more
than doubly reimburse him for his ex.
penditure on highway improvements;
and he can then remove to some native
wild whose quiet waters have not been
"troubled'' by the spirit of progress.
/ am aware that many intelligent
farmers will not accept the estimates
of their fellow farmers as to the money
value of good roads-many who will
even deny that improved highways
have any appreciable money value. ]
am glad to know, however, that many
OF these very same farmers favor good
roads, and would aid in their construc
ton for the same reason that they
would build for themselves com
Portable and even luxurious homes.
In view Of the very general recog.
nitipn among farmers of the necessity
and benefits of good roads. am en-.
couraged to believe that a very large
proportion of the farming classes will
heartily join with the people of the
cities and towns in an effort to devise,
adopt and put into execution some eff
ticient, economical and equitable sys-
TEN of highway improyem ent.