The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-02-13
GOOD ROADS LEAD TO WEALTH.

We sincerely trust that the press OF
Hampshire and Mineral counties, W
Va.-that of Garrett county, Md,
and that of Bedford county, Pa, will
copy the following and urge upon
their readers the Importance of a
Good Roads Convention, urging
the Governors of Pennsylvania, Mary.
land and West Virginia to be present,
say in Cumberland, as this point is
most central to the five counties en-
braced in this movement and make
addresses.
We can give some idea of the bene-
fit of good roads to a farming people
by a comparison of New Jersey-the
pioneer State in such work-with
North Caroline.
In the first place we will state that
in square miles of territory New Jer-
sey's total area is about equal to one
sixth that of North Carolina, the first
named containing only s,173 to 62,67O
contained In this state.
The population OF the two States is
about the same-buS little difference
each laying about ], 800, O00in round
numbers.
According to statement by the
census bureau recently, the farms of
New Jersey, June /, 1900, numbered
34,650, and had value of 1885,, sol, 010.
Of this amount 800, 1906 or 1926 per
cent. represents the value of build
ings, and of land and improvements
other than buildings. On the same
date the value of farm implements
and machinery was $9,33O, 900, and of
live stock $17,612,620. These values,
added to that of farms, give the total
value of farm property $1S9, 533, $780,"
A farm, as defined in the Twelfth
Census, includes all the land, under
one management, used for raising
crops and pasturing live stock, with
wood lots, swamps, meadows, etc.,
meeting herewith. Italso includes
the house in which the farmer resides,
and all other building used by him
in connection with it's farming opera
tions.
We will note here that the land
and Improvements other than build
ings is vaiued-by the owners as re-
turned to the census bureau-at
500, 36O,93O
We have not the report of the last
census of value of lands in this State,
and therefore will use the latest state
ment made by our State Auditor of
values as returned for taxation. And
in this we cannot separate the build
ings and other improvements thereon
which is returned separately in the
case of New Jersey. We can only
give the total value of all lands in the
State, outside of town lots or realty
situated in incorporated communities
as stated by the Auditor; and this to-
tai valuation is placed at $116,614, 04S,
OOmpdlOu WlUu PlUS,o5S,UlU valuation
of farm lands and all Improvements
thereon in New Jersey and $93,O6O,-
$50 valuation of farm lands alone
without improvements. When we
consider that the territory of North
Carolina is more than six times that
of New Jersey this difference looms
up into tremendous proportions.
We must admit that owing to loca-
tion-its juxtaposition to large cities
and other populous States-that the
New Jersey farmer possesses advan-
tages that do not accrue to our state;
but with all these the ready means to
each of those markets at all seasons,
which the people soon learned was
essential, have contributed as much
to the immediate value and profits of
the land as all the other advantages.