The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-15

The Ea.niGcations OF the Problem.
HOY James G. Berryhill spoke rs fol-
lows before the Iowa Good Roads Con-
vention:
We are all agreed without exception
that the movement for good roads IS
an important one. will not consume
your time in discussing that PROPOSE
ton, but will briefly refer to some OF
the conditions which have influenced
the calling Of this convention.
How does the movement affect the
farmer? And when 1 speak of the
farmers interest refer to the inter-
ests of the whole community, because
the interests Of the merchants, pro-
fessional men, bankers. and Of all cit
izeus are absolutely dependent upon
the interests Of the farmer. If the
farming interests prosper. the whole
State prospers.
We have III the State Of Iowa, dur
ing six to nine months of the year. the
best roads Oil the face Of the earth. but
during the remainder Of The year we
us consider now the effect upon the
producer OF our cereal crops. Take
the producer Of corn, for example.
His harvest takes place in the fall.
His grain is not in fit condition for the
distant market until the month of De-
cember. He is forced to market his
grain Immediately after its maturity.
while the roads are in fair condition.
or postpone the day of realization
thereon until the following summer.
The result is that he must unite with
his neighbors and with all producers
throughout the community and deluge
the market with his crop. 1t has
disastrous effect upon the market in
depressing the price. 1t produces an
embargo in railroad transportation.
and frequently during several months
OF the year it is impossible for the
common carriers to furnish rolling
stock adequate to carry the grain to
the market.
What is true Of the corn crop is like
wise true OF other cereal crops. 1t is
true Of the hog crops, although the
hogs themselves may furnish their
own locomotion: but you know how
serious an effect upon the weight OF
the animals the driving Of drove of
hogs over five, six or ten miles to
market is. Therefore it is IN the inter-
est Of the farmer that roads should be
epen and passable and available for
the TRANSPORTATION Of his produce for
the entire year.
But agriculture is undergoing
transformation. With the growth OF
population in cities and towns there is
a demand for better class of produce.
Plus the creamery and the dairy de-
velop. Now roads must be open
throughout the entire year in order to
market milk. the cream, the butter,
the eggs. and the perishable garden
crops which the farmers likewise pro-
duce.
At the national convention held at
Chicago IN 1893 this proposition was
discussed IS it affected common car
riers. and it was there announced that
the Wabash Railroad had voluntarily
offered 70 transport all building mete-
rial necessary for the permanent I'M
provement OF their highways at cost.
I am satisfied that if we undertake
movement upon practical lines we can
secure the cooperation not only OF
business men of the cities, but OF COM
mon carriers throughout the length
and breadth Of our State and of the
land itself. 1t is to their interest TO
cooperate. for the reason that they
want to utilize their rolling stock
throughout the year. They want to
avoid freight embargoes. They do not
care to see avalanches of produce
forced upon them for transportation
during limited period Of the year,
overtaXing their capacity and involv-
ing them in controversies with ship
pers. but would prefer to keep their
rol':p;: stock in motion throughout the
year instead Of having it overwhelmed
q pc"ion of the year and lying idle
upon the tracks the remaining portion.
1 met a gentleman who is in the liv-
cry business. l put the question 10
him: do you not think that we in Des
Moines are interested in the improve
ment Of country roads, the leading
highways passing from the city into
the country why" he says, most
asSuredly, and we ought to pay for
them. 1 have paid during this present
bad road term SIS ton for hay,
whereas if the highways leading from
the country into the city had been
open throughout the entire winter 1
would have paid but $S."
Now that is an illustration that can
be carried very much farther. Take
the merchant for example. During
the period when roads are bad he finds
his business absolutely staSnant. He
makes his sales to his customers; the
customers buy on credit. The merchant
demands payment. The uniform ex-