The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-08-25
Increase per acre that would result
rom improving all the public roads


from improving all the public roads
is 50.
Third: The estimated average
cost OF converting the common pub
lie roads into improved highway is
81 JAG per mile
Fourth: The estimated average
annual loss, per 100 acres, from poor
roads is $7G.2S.
Ii these estimates are even approXi-
mately correct, they furnish Il key to
the satisfactory solution OF the ques-
ton OF highway improvement from
the money standpoint. On the basis
OF the last mentioned estimate the
average annual loss per acre from
poor roads is over 76 cents. In five
years the losses would aggregate
~, 1872 for every section OF land, and
this sum would construct two miles
at a cost of 81 PIG per mile, which is
$50 per mile above the estimated
average cost given by the farmers
themselves. The present road tax
which, -nder existing laws, is largely
thrown away, would, under a proper
system of road maintenance, doubt
less keep improved highways ia per-
feet repair.
Ii the foregoing statements are
near approach to the truth, it follows
that the losses and expenditures
which farmers actually incur on ac-
count of pOOrroads would also secure
permanently good roads. Can any
sane mind doubt the wisdom of eX-
changing the losses, delays, accidents,
and vexation of spirit, occasioned by
bad roads, for the comfort and other
advantages OF good roads when the
cost is the same?
But there is another side to this
question:, viz, the increased value OF
land from highway Improvement. AS
already stated, this increase is esti-
mated by the farmers consulted at
50 per acre. This would enhance the
value of each section of land s., $50,
which is more than double the esti-
mated cost ($2, ,292) of the two miles
of improved highway, which cOnsti-
tute the quota for the section. Just
here the objection may be raised that
the improved roads would not i'll
crease the productive capacity OF the
land, while the enhanced commercial
value would increase the taxes. Let
us, for the sake OF argument, grant
this plausible but fallaciOus objection,
and then find what it amounts to.
Let us suppose the increase in ap-
praisenent for taxation to be So per
acre, and the tax rate X per cent.
This would mean an annual increase
in taxes of > cents per acre, or 50 per
hundred acres Would not our OBJ
iector, after enjoying the benefit of
good roads. be very willing to give
therefor the extra IS if necessary?
Would he keep the money and go
back to the thraldom of mud roads?
If so, he has the option of selling his
farm at an advance, according to
the average estimates OF his brother
farmers, that will more than doubly
reimburse him for his expenditure on
highway improvements; and he can
then remove to some native wild
whose quiet waters have not been
''trOubled' by the spirit of progress.
am aware that many intelligent
farmers will not accept the estimates
of their fellow farmers as to the
money value of good roads-many
who will even deny that improved
highways have an appreciable money
value. am glad to know, however,
that many OF these very same farmers
favor good roads. and would aid in
their construction for the same rea-
son that they would build for them
selves comfortable and even lux
uriOus homes.
In view of the very generalrecogni-
tion among farmers OF the necessity
and benefits of good roads, an en-
cOuraged to believethat Il very large
proportion of the farming classes
will heartily Join with the people of
the cities and towns in an effort to
devise, adopt, and put into execu-
ton some efficient. economical, and
equitable system of highway i'm
prOvement.
In conclusion it is but Just to those
who have kindly furnished data for
this paper to say that their esti-
mates of losses due to poor roads
apply only to live, enterprising
farmers who would reap the benefits
to accrue from improved highways,
That there are some who would
realize little substantial gain from
highway improvement must be ad-
mitted, but to base an argument
against good roads on this fact
would be to do gross injustice to the
great majority of industrious, thrifty,
enterprising farmers who are doing
so much to make Indiana one Of the
foremost agricultural States OF the
Union. W. {. LATTA.
Purdue University, La Fayette, Ind.