The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-25
MR.. zENOR SPEAKS OF
THE GOOD ROADS BILL
He Figures Out a Large Saving
for Farmers if the Measure
Should Be Passed.
PRESENT AVERAGE COST

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. A.-One member of
the House OF Representatives who advo-
Gates federal aid in the betterment Of public
roads has made an attempt TO point out in
figures the benefits which would accrue to
the farmers. Mr.. Zenor, OF Indiana. has
made this attempt. He says: Take
farmer who has farm Of say, eighty
acres. and that Is about the average number
OF acres owned by the farmers throughout
my section OF the country. Those eighty
acres are worth, say, $50 acre; and If
the farmer has, in addition, farming i'm
plements and animals with which to carry
on his operations, amounting In value to
$500 his total investment is $500.
Now, that farmer. according to the best
estimates, VIII transport from his sarm to
the markets thirty TO forty tons year. He
pays on each ton per mile % cents. Twenty
five cents ton per mile on those thirty
tons would be $50 a mile. The average dis
lance he is obliged 10 travel i'm transporting
these products 10 market is about eight
miles. Eight times $50 makes SEQ. Thus
there would be a clear saving to the farmer
I'm this single item of $50. when we take into
consideration the reduction of cost by good
roads Of One-half.
How much would be the tax on the
farmer for a macadamized road in his
neighborhood under the policy proposed to
be inaugurated by either of the bills now
inaugurated and those roads are built, the
average tax. according TO the best esti-
mates. would be mills on the dollar.
Five mills. continued for five years, with
the aid OF the federal government, is the ex-
penditure proposed by the Department Of
Agriculture for putting all the roads of this
country in very excellent condition. Five
mills on the dollar. IL paid by the farmer
whose farm. and farming implements, etc.
amount 10 $500. would be SIS. Therefore.
to the farmer who pays SIC there is a saving
OF. in other words. a clear profit of over S14
AN actual saving in the transportation of
his products 10 the railroads and the
markets.
Perry Heath has been in the public eye in
Washington for the past few weeks He
was subpOened here as a witness in the
Machen trial. but he took advantage of the
spare time on his hands to talk politics
Something Of a sensation was created in
Washington and New York by the declara-
ton OF Mr.. Heath that several railroad
presidents had conspired TO defeat the NOM
nation of President Roosevelt 1t APP
pears on inquiry that Mr.. Heath did not go
to the extreme represented in one of the
big dailies o. the East. He merely stated
that certain interests in the United States
among them railroad representatives. were
opposed to the President. Mr.. Heath is one
of the most enthusiastic anti Roosevelt men
I'm the United States. He was for Hanna
long before his name was connected with
the postal scandal. Mr.. Heath made the
prediction just before leaving Washington
that Mr.. Roosevelt would not be the NOM
inee of the party.
The case OF Ensign Stitt, of Wabash,
who resigned his commission in the navy.
is an unusual one. Stitt is graduate of
the Annapolis Naval Academy. He Quit
the service soon after graduation TO take
up the practice OF law in Indiana. When
the Spanish war broke out he came East
and met several OF his old associates i'm
New York. He caught the war fever. en-
listed. and was appointed to the rank of
ensign. II Sutt had remained in the navy
in the ordinary course of events he would
nave reached the grade OF lieutenant bv
this time Recently he communicated with
Senator Beveridge with view TO securing
promotion 20 a leutenancy by the pas
sage or bill. Secretary Moody commended
Sttt as an excellent officer and a young
man OF promise. but refused TO approve
the bill on the ground that IL would he
preJudicial To discipline Accordingly Slit.
resigned. and 10 is understood he will re-
sumo the pfactice OF law IN Indiana.
An amendment will be incorporated in one
OF the appropriation bills increasing the
salary OF Melville w Miller. assistant seq
rotary OF the interior (of Lafayette. from
s4.0O0 TO 5000 year. Secretary Miller Is
one OF the officials that enjoys few or no
perquisities- lie has never had "a car
riage placed al his disposal and his salary
at present Is s. 5g0 less than that maid tb,s
first assis tant secretary OF the interior SEN
atOr Fairbanks and Representative Hemen-
way got their heads together one day last
week and agreed that Mr.. Miller should re-
ceive at least $500 "A year. and an amend
ment providing FOR the increase will be
placed IN one Of the supply bills The in
crease probably VIII be granted j. Z. NJ.