The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-04-01
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GOOD ROADS NOTES f:
Enect of Roads ON Population.

Effect of Roads on Population.
The Hon. Martin Dodge, the pres
emit director of the Road inquiry
Bureau, makes the following COM
ments on the influence which the
character and condition of the COM
mon roads have on the distribution OF
population. As reported by the WASH
ington Star, he says:
'Some ten years ago / became salts
fed that the agricultural industry In
this country was passing through
period of decline, especially in the
Eastern and Middle States. When
the census report for 1890 was pub
lished, it was more apparent than ever
before that the agricultural industry
had not only declined as to its pros
perity, but that relatively to other in
dustries it was losing its place. This
was manifest by deserted villages In
the rural districts, abandoned farm
houses and an absolute decrease IN
the rural population.
SIN studying the causes OF this de-
cline in agriculture I soon observed
that those communities which had the
best and cheapest means of transporta-
ton had suffered the least, and that
| those communities that were poorly
provided with the means of transporta-
ton had suffered most. This rule
seems to hold good as to large Sec
tions of the country and as to small
areas in different localities. For in
stance, the agricultural States in the
trans Mississippi group are supplied
with the cheapest means OF transporta'
ton for long distances by the steam
railroads and the steamships upon the
great lakes; therefore, they have sui
fered a less decline than any othel
large body of agricultural land in thu
United States.
"On the other hand, the local com
munities who are dependent upol
animal power to move their product
have suffered the greatest DECLINE
where the wagon roads are poorest
and the least decline where wagol
roads are best. So it seems apparen
that the most important factor IN pro
ducine the changed condition OF popu
lation and the decreasing value
agricultural land is the item OF trans
portation. So absolute is this fat
,, that the value of agricultural Ian
can be accurately estimated by II
: distance from easy means OF tran!
portation, the price of land falling
proportion to its distance from chea
!. means of transportation. And Q
l cheap means of transportation l mea
something better than an ordlnar
wagon drawn over an ordinary unin
proved road by animal power.
J "The cost of moving tonnage la
- miles by steamships upon deep watel
J $50 miles upon steam cars. or INVENT.
five miles upon electric cars, IS I
greater than the cost of moving to-
mage five miles by animal power upo
a common road. Having noticed tn
y great difference in the cost OF moylr
o the productions OF the. country by dl
o ferent means of transportation, al
g having noticed also that those WI
If were destitute of the lcneap meal
were the greatest loserS by means
J. the falling prices of their lands on
/ their products, as we'll % the loss
( their population, it seemed to me IL
d perative that everything should
n done to supply the rur|l districts
70 cheaper means of transportation th'
to they have ever enjoyed, and resto
E. them as much as possible to ecu
a terms in the cost of transportation
n And this can only be eff ected by t
n construction of tirst-clasb permanel
hard highways.