Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-03-24

Good roads is one of the greatest
aids to all interests in any section of
country, ana whatever works to tho
general good of the country, as a
whole, benefits the railroad togeth er
with all other important interests. If
permanent roadways were considered
necessary in the olden days of the
Roman Empire, why are they not
mere so now? The :act that we have
the modern methods Of transportation
as the result of the great ingenuity
Of man, while they had to depend
wholly upon the animal, is ample
evidence. Think of the great pro.
ductiveness Of the land today with
the ability of the producers to reach
markets, even with perishable pro.
ducts, thousands of miles away, as
compared to the conditions in those
dark days. And in this the railroad
is only one factor-the wagon roads
which make the country tributary to
1t must be adequate for the highest
possible productive ability of the
land, or the people and all interests
connected with the particular-p part of
the country which LACKS this condi.
tion, are not fully benefited. This is
confirmed by the following remarks
OF an authority on the subject: 1T
costs less to transport commodities
across the continent by rail, or from
continent to continent by water, than
1t does over single mile of some of
our common roads in parts of the
United States during nearly half the
year. " From this il can be readily
appreciated how such parts of the
country are handicapped in produc.
tiveness, and what "A handicap such a
condition is to the railroad that must
rely upon the prosperity of the ter.
ritory which it serves for its business.
In Western Oregon | believe good
roads generally throughout the rural
districts would add more to the value
of the land and have more to do
with the prosperity of all interests
therein than all the other questions
of public progressiyeness put to.
gesher. While there are only about
Il, 300 farms in Western Oregon TODAY.
a small saving in the wear and tear
ON horses, harness aud vehicles. and
also the time to the farmer through
his ability to haul heavier load
than at present. wguld reach an
amount sufficient to build many miles
of good roads, This can be partially
illustrated by using only few of the
principal commodities produced
which the farmer must haul to mar.
ket or to the railroad and determining
approximately the expense of such
haul as follows;
AMOUNT PRODUCED.
Hops, 100000 pounds, equal to
5000 wagonloads, of 20O0 pounds
Wool, 100000 pounds, equal to
1850 wagouloads ,, goo pounds
Dried Fruit 5000, oOO. pounds.
equal to 5000 wagonloads, 5000
pounds
Potatoes, ,5,OoO coo pounds. equal
to 25' 600 wasonloads, 1900 pounds
Wheat and oats, $50, 900. GOO pounds |
equal to $4,000 wagonloads 1000
pounds.
Green fruit, lo5Oo.olo, pounds. |
Equal to $500 wagonloads 1000
pounds Or total of lss $50 |
wagon loads Of less than 5000 pounds |
zach, Then taking as an average a |
b Eul Of three miles per load and plac. |
ing the cost approximately 81 40 per
cad, this means an expense OF 5000.
NO for the hauling OF only the above
ew commodities think II fair 10
ay that the year round our trainers
'ould haul twice as much per losd
III the average wi IN properly built
'nd maintained roads, as they are
auling at present Oh thi. basis il
an be readily seen that vast amount
Of money can be expended in building
Holic highways in Western Oregon
profitable investment to our peo. /
le' and the saving Of expense to the