Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-06
PLEA FOR
GOOD ROADS.

a large good roads convention Of
First district farmers was held in Bur
hngton Tuesday, at which the govern
ment experts, Mr.. e, G.. Harrison and
Col William H. Moore. were present A
piece of road making was built to illus
trate the methods of building. Before
the close of the session an organization
was formed and the interest among
farmers promises good fruit. In an ad-
dress full of information, Mr., Harri-
son said:
wish 1t clearly understood that
while am here as the representative
OF the government it Is not the purpose
or intention of the department of agri-
culture to construct or aid in the con-
struction of the public roads of the
country. 1t is the purpose of that de-
partment of the government to give in
formation or lines that will be of bene-
At to the farming community. You are
aware Of how they do that, through the
free distribution of seeds and of the
testing of new plants through the agri-
cultural experimental stations of the
state. and also in making tests to as
certain the value of manures. fertiliz-
ers, etc.
Now, 1t is on these lines that the de-
partment of agriculture proposes to as
sist you in regard to modern methods
of road constructions. While it is inn
portant to assist the farmer to increase
his production, it is also important to
instruct him as to cheaper methods of
getting that product to market The
increased interest in good roads is not
the result OF the advocates of bicycling.
While they are good road agitators,
they have had little to do with man
ping out the policy of the national or
state governments in relation to roads.
This matter was first brought to fhe
attention of the government by the
board of commerce OF the state of New
York. In 1890 they took the subject of
roads in connection with the business in
terests of the country, and after having
| fully discussed it their conclusions were
embraced in the memorial sent to con-
lgress, in which they stated: The move
ment for good roads deeply concerns
every commercial and financial interest
in the land. We are handicapped in all
the markets of the world by an enor-
nous waste of labor In the primary
.
manufactures, while our home markets
are restricted by difficulties in rural
distribution which not infrequently clog
all the channels of transportation. trade
and finance.
'Ihe national government acted upon
this memorial by requesting the consuls
! in different foreign countries to ascer-
tain the condition of their public roads,
| with the cost of construction, mainte-
nance and the benefits to the several
countries resulting from their respect
| i've methods. The report of the consuls
Twas published and widely distributed
| throughout the country, by members of
Icongress. 1t showed in brief that one
| horse in foreign countries was doing the
work of three horses in this country, or
! in other words, the foreigner got his
\ products into the markets of the world
at ratio of two-thirds less than the
same could be done for in this country
SAT the next session of congress. after
/ the publication of this report a resolu-
Ition was adopted authorizing the set
.iting apart of $4,000 of the agricultural
1 appropriation for the purpose of max
Il ing inquiry into the condition of the
public roads of the country, the number
of miles that farm products pass over il
| their primary transportation-that is
4 from the farm to the nearest shippihs
point. whether conveyed by rail OIL
Isteamhoat. and also to inquire into The
slcost of the primary haul on common
roads as we'll as on improved roads
This resulted In creating what is know
as the road inquiry, and Gen. Roy Stone
was placed at the head of it. | regre
Exceedingly that he is not present, bu
sickness has prevented him from at
itending any of the conventions held il
the west.
4 Twelve thousand Inquiries We're sen
throughout the country to gather thi:
information. They went to the mos
Intelligent farmers--those who had beef
depended upon by the statistical divis
lion of the agricultural department, an,
the result was. which | will give il
! round numbers, that the primary hau
of the farm products of the oountr.
average twelve miles: that the ayerag,
cost Of hauling one ton per mile is 9
cents. thus making the average hau
cost SO per ton. This is an enormous
cost ard tax on the country. No othe
business could afford it. The manu-
line of railroad. river or canal. TIL
I cost of horse power being the most eX
4 peusiye known. would soon eat up al
i the profits il they had to haul their ray
or manufactured products over mil
from the place of shipment. Many o
1.-THE large manufacturing establishment
of the country which We're formerly rul
by extensive water power have beef
abandoned. and millions of that kind o
property has rotted down and gone t
waste. These plants were removed o
4 established along the lines of rail
rouds and water communication AM
run by the more expensive power o
steam. The farmer can not remove hi
plant, which is his farm, and the onl,
way he can improve his condition is b.
improving the roads, so that he cal
haul three tons where he now onl,
hauis one. Can this be done?
THE road inquiry sent out othe
questions to see what 1t cost to NOV
products from farming districts, wher
roads had been improved. These in
quiries went into Kentucky, wher
stone turnplkes had been constructs
many years ago; also into Ohio an
Pennsylvania. where they have tn
same turnpike systems; into New Jer
sey, where they have the fine syster
of roads built under state aid, whic
lare all free; also into Connecticut