The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-04
VALUE OF TURNPIKEs.
Improved Conditions Have Helped Cot
ton Planters.

Improved Conditions Have Helped Cot
ton Planters.
| The building of turnpikes, which have
been active only of late years over the
entire southern portion of the United
! States, and which has brought about
much improved roads for public con-
veyance in all sections and notably In
the territory Immediately contiguous to
Memphis. has resulted in planters and
the country merchants sending in a
much larger percentage of their cot
ton on their wagons instead of trurn-
ing it over to the railroads for trans
portation.
There is nothing that is so beneficial
to the planters at the south as good
roads for the easy marketing of their
produce, and the farmers within rad
Jus of thirty to forty miles of Memphis
have learned that these roads represent
great deal of saving to them on their
cotton crops in that they make it pos
sible for them to send their cotton into
the city without too mumc strain on
their teams, and without too much
wear and tear ON their wagons. At the
same time it is a reasonable proposition
that since the roads have been improv-
ed as they have the planters and the
merchants in the small towns who wish
to market their cotton at this point
can have much larger roads than they
could before the turnpikes were eX-
tended and multiplied as they have
been within the last decade.
In the early history of the cotton
trade in this city almost the entire
crop of this district was marketed on
wagons, the railroad facilities at that
time amounting. to almost nothing. The
wagons offered the only solution of the
question of getting their cotton to this
city, and, although there were no turn
pixies, the cotton was brought here and
large loads of groceries and provisions
and other necessaries of plantation life
were carried back
With the growth of the extensive net
work of railroads entering Memphis
quite a change took place. These meant
the solution Of the problem of market
ing cotton, and the wagons We're large
ly relegated to the rear. The prices of
cotton were high, and the amount paid
IN freight TOT transportation lnIu1IeS1-
mally small compared with the value
for the staple when sold. The farmers,
the planters, the merchants, all jumped
at the conclusion that the railroads
were best, that the wagon method was
too slow, and that it represented too
much expenditure in the way of time
and the wear and tear of the running
gear of their wagons and only a small
portion come in this way.
But the reduction in the price of cot
ton within the last few years and TIE
fact that transportation rates We're not
reduced in proportion to the value of
he staple made those owning cotton in
his district, within a certain radius of
he city, cast around for a new solu-
ion of the difficulty with which they
we're face to face. And the building of
he turnpike proved the solution for
which they were looking These roads
made it possible for larger loads to be
lauled, for less wear and tear on the
wagons, for less strain on the teams.
md for quicker time, and the farmers
cit that they had the railroads beat.
Turnpikes have been gradually in |
reasing in the neighborhood of Mem |
his for the last fifteen years, and with |
hese the people living along these