The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-02-01
VALUE OF TURNPIKES.
Improved Condition of Country Roads
Has Helped the Cotton Plant
ers of the South.

has 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 conveyance in all sections,
and notably in the territory imme-
diately contiguous to Memphis, has
resulted in the planters and country
merchants sending in a much larger
percentage of their cotton on their
wagons instead of turning it over
to the railroads for transportation.
There is nothing that is so bene-
fetal to the planters of the south as
good roads for the easy marketing
of their produce, and the farmers
within a radius of 80 to 40 miles of
Memphis have learned that these
roads represent great deal OF saw
ing to them on their cotton crop in
that they make it possible for them
to send their cotton into the city
without too much strain on their
teams an6 without too much wear
and tear on their wagons. At the
same time it is reasonable PROPOSE
ton 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
solution of the question of getting
their cotton to this city, and, al
though 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 a 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 enthusiastically 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 rep
resented too much expenditure in the
way of time and the wear and tear
of the running gear of their wagons
and only small portion came in 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
certain radius of the city, cast around
| for a new solution of the difficulty
with which they were face to face.
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 beat.
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 entire
holdings to this market on wagons,
while before that time the 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
entirely independent of them in
bringing their cotton in on their wag.
ons. The latter is much the slower
way, but there is generally some sac
rifice necessary to bring about re-
forms of any kind, and the farmers
and planters along the turnpike roads
do not mind making the fight when
ever 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
brought in over the turnpikes, as
compared with that transported by
the former, 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 ex.
perience of the last two years, there
will be a marked increase in the
amount of cotton finding it's way to
this market on wagons.-Memphis
| Scimitar.
Improbable Dairy Cows.
One of the hardest things to get
4 ~ I, -,