Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-02-15
VALUE of TURNP1KEs.
improved Conditions in the south
Have Greatly Helped Cotton
Planters.

|
The building of turnpikes, which
has been active only of late years
over the entire southern portion OF
the United States, and which has
brought about much improved roads
Tor public conveyance in all sections,
and notably in the territory con-
tiguous to Memphis, has resulted in
the planters and country merchants
sending in a much larger percentage
Of their cotton on their wagons in
stead of turning it over to the rail-
roads for transportation, says the
Memphis Scimitar.
There is nothing that is so bene-
fetal to the planters at the south as
good roads for the easy marketing of
their produce, and the farmers with
in a radius of 80 to 40 miles of Mem
phis have learned that these roads
represent a great deal of saving to
them on their cotton crop in that
they make it possible for them to
send their cotton into the city with
out too much strain on their teams
and without much wear and tear
on their wagons. At the same time
it is reasonable proposition that
since the roads have been improved
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 loads
than they could before the turnpikes
were extended and multiplied as they
have been within the last decade.
In the early history of the cotton
trade of this city almost the entire
crop of this district was marketed
on wagons, the railroad facilities at
that time amounting to almost moth
ing. The wagons offered the only so
luton of the question of getting their
cotton to this city, and, although
there were no turnpikes, 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
network of railroads entering Mem
phis quite change took place. These
meant the solution of the problem OF
marketing cotton, and the wagons
were largely relegated to the rear.
The prices of cotton were high and
the amount paid in freight for trans
portation ininitesimally small COM
pared with the value received 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 came this way.
But the reduction in the price of
cotton within the last few years and
the fact that transportation rates
were not reduced in proportion to the
value of the staple made those own
ing cotton in this district within q
for a new solution of the difficulty
And the building of the turnpike
proved the solution for which they
were looking. These roads made it
possible for larger loads to be hauled,
for less wear and tear on the wag
ons, for less strain on the teams and
for quicker time. and the farmers felt
that they had the railroads beaten
Turnpikes have been gradually in.
creasing in the neighborhood of Mem
phis for the last Is years, and with
these the people living along these
roads have gradually increased the
amount of cotton coming to this city
by wagons. The turnpike lately ex-
tended to Colierville, Tenn, has
caused the merchants and owners of
cotton in that town and between here
and there to bring almost their en-
tire holdings to\this market on wag-
ons, while before that time he bulk
of the crop found its way to market
on the railroads passing those points.
The same is true of Holly Springs
and the fernando district, and other
instances could also be given, but
these will suffice.
The turnpikes have made it possible
for the holders of cotton to fight the |
railroads on their rates by acting en-
tire1y independent of them in bring
ing their cotton in on their wagons. |
The latter is much the slower way, |
but there is generally some sacrifice |
necessary to bring about reforms of
any kind, and the farmers and plant |
ers along the turnpike roads do not |
mind making the fight whenever they |
find it necessary.
The turnpikes and the railroads |
have both come to stay, and since the |
latter are being gradually extended
and are continually tapping new ter
ritory, the percentage Of cotton |
in over the turnpikes, as
with that transported by !
the railroads, is steadily increasing. |
The higher prices of cotton promised |
the farmers this year may make |
them willing to pay the freights. but |
with the low prices, judging from the