The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-08-24
GOOD ROADS SYSTEM.
A Practical Question that Should In
terest the Farmers.

Whenever Legislature is to he
elected, people generally turn their
attention to that material progress
and development affected by State
laws;and many students of the states
internal business affairs-the affairs
OF the people, in short-believe that
nothing of public nature could be
uone that would so conduce to pros.
perity for the farmer as the perfec
ton OF some Good Roads System -
Just how one can be secured is a
matter for the solons to determine
Ihat good roads are needed in Ten
nessee is shown by comparisons Of
property valuations with sections of
the country in which good roads are
not only maintained, but at a pro-
! portlonal expense between county
State aud citizen; and in such sec
tons statistics also show a remark
able increase in aggregate farm pro-
duce tonnage, as well as o wholesome
enhancement to the profits of 1.-The
original handler''-the farmer,
1t is an admitted fact among the
| snfeWdest business men that cost of
transportation is the greatest eX-
pense one must consider in making
commercial calculations for ultimate
profit in business. As little as MANY
may think il, according to figures
prepared bv government and trans
pOrta'lnn company statistical ex
perts, good roads, on farm produce
alone in this State. would mean an
annual saving to the farmers of ap-
proXimately $4,000, 900, ~ about FIVE
times the amount If the States run
ming expenses, and very nearly two
thirds of the amount that would be
required to macadamize 20 600 miles
Of roads, district to be selected in
discriminately.
In Tennessee 5000 miles of rail
roads are in operation. and the
United States census REPORTS of 1890
place valuation of $3.50 900 900 upon
that property; almost ten times the
amount of money that would he re-
CURED to construct 10000 miles of
good roads. For fifty years this
country has devoted its energies and
its money to railroad construction,
and the road question has only been |
given that casual attention which |
frequently comes with localized |
political campaigns: attention |
"thrown in" as 1t were to catch |
votes. and, generally speaking. of |
that character which is unprOduc- |
tive of permanent god.
The facts and figures as to Tennes-
sees farm produce alone bespeak the |
necessity for good roads. According
to carefully prepared statistics by
one of the Express companies oper-
ating in this State. Tennessee's rural |
citizens furnish 100000 tons of farm |
produce every year, most Of which
for considerable distance ia
handled by wagon. The calculated
cost of wagon transportation in Ten
nessee Is SO per ton per mile Chat il,
the average generally accepted in
computing total finland transporta-
ton" eXpenses) and it will thus be
seen that Tennessee farmers pay
Sl5 OOO,OO0 year for their hauling;
whereas, 1t is claimed, experiences
of other States justifying the claim.
that this can be cut to S5.000,0O0. or
reduced two-thirds. AMI that extra
ten millions would rem ain with the
farmer too.
Many plans for a goo road system
have been suggested. One Is the
passage Of Estate Aid LAVA law
that provides for an initiative move
ment by citizens In any district; one
in fact, patterned some what after thu
New Jersey system, which IL said 10
have worked so admirably. In order
that this plan, in general way may
be the better understood. assume
that number OF farmers live five
miles from their natural market and
they want good road. Let these
direct bent ficiaries pay 10 per cent
of the total coast; estimated at $500
mile, or $1,000 fOr the entire dis
lance ;shen let the State pay IS per c..
aud the county 40 per cent or $500
each. When one Games 70 think of
the fact that the municipalities OF the
state, Appropriated. pay q OF the to.
tai advalorum and privilege taxes, Il !