The suburban citizen., 1902-12-13


value to farmers will be granted by
ALL That the money value of improved
! highways is alone sufficient TO justify
the cost of their construction will be
confidently claimed or readily admitted
! by many farmers. questioned by 9th
ers, and denied by not a few.
In view Of the financial and many
other advantages OF good roads, ma
jorlty Of the farmers Of the State
would doubtless favor their construc.
ton as rapidly as practicable under
/ some efficient. economical and cquita-
hle system Of highway improvement.
But there is a considerable proportion
! 9f the farmers-doubtless ono-iifth, and
! possibly one-fourth-who have little
knowledge or appreciation OF the
benefits Of good roads, and who there
fore object on account of tho. great cost
of highway Improvement. The farm
ers of this class know that they will
have TO bear their full share of the
burden of such Improvement: they dis
credit moi wholly without reason) the
statements and conclusions of many
public writer's as to the losses and
gains to farmers from poor and good
roads respectively; hence they view
with apprehension the general agita-
tlon in favor of improved highways,
Ignoring or undertaking the educa-
tlonal and social advantages as well
as the comfort and enjoyment Of good
roads or feeling unable to pay the
price OF such benefits, these farmers
regard with distrust and dsfdvor
measures for highway Improvement;
and they are likely to oppose efforts
for the betterment of our roads unless
they can first be convinced that good
roads will prove n paying financial
investment. Speaking, therefore in
behalf OF those who for any reason
are not Influenced by the higher cOnsid-
erations in favor improved highways,
1 raise the question, VIII it pay the
farmers in dollars and cents to improve
their public roads?
Before attempting 70 answer this
question. let us consider in what ways
permanently good roads will prove
financially beneficial to farmers. All
will agree, I think, that good road
will
First-Economize time and force in
transportation between farm and mar
ket.
Second-Enablc the farmer to take
advantage of market fluctuations in
buying and selling.
Thrd-Permit transportation of farm
products and purchased commodities
during times of comparative leisure.
Fourth--Reduce the wear and tear
on horses, harness and vehicles.
Fifth-Enhance the market value Of
real estate.
But while it is easy to enumerate the
ways in which improved roads will be
financially advantageous to farmers. it
is very difficult to estimate, in dollars
and cents, the benefits to accrue there
from. Distrusting NJ own judgment
in the premises and fearing also that
my opinions would have little weight
with others, l sought the advice Of the
farmers themselves. Letters of inquiry
were sent to sixty OF the most intelli-
gent farmers in forty counties located
in the central and northern parts Of
the State. The substance of these
letters is given herewith
First-About what proportion CT the
public highways in your county are
now good gravel roads?
Second-Please estimate the average
increase Gn dollars and cents in the
selling price an acre of land through
out the county, as the result OF such
gravel roads.
Third-If all the public roads in your
county were converted into improved !
highways how much, in your judg
ment, would it increase the average |
selling price an acre OF land through |
out your county?
FOurth-What would be a fair esti !
mate Of the cost q mile of converting !
our common dirt roads as they now ex-
ist into good gravel roads, provided, OF |
course, the work were to be performed |
economically under some competent, |
general supervision, and not hampered |
by legal restrictions?
Ffth-Supposing that your county |
were divided into 100-acre farms, and |
that the average distance Of each farm
from market were five miles, what, |
IN your judgment would be the aver
age annual cost Qn dollars and cents |
to each farmer Of our unimproved
highways?
In answering the fifth question
please take into account the reduced
loads, increased time, extra wear and
tear, and loss in sales from inability to
deliver products when the market is
best.
Over forty replies to these queries
were received. AS would be expected
from the difference in soil, surface, and
distance from gravel beds, there Is q
wide range in the estimates of the diff
ferent correspondents. Many of the es-
Inmates are necessarily mere guesses.
while others are based on n thorough
knowledge Of the matters under CON
slderatlon.
The averages OF these estimates
l. 7