The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-03-30
rne COST OF BAD ROADS.


When the farmers Of ths country
realize what bad rot ls cost them cacn
year they will not rcs' until they haze
secured good roads.
Congressman Bi1khcad Of Alabalnn
estimates that So per cont Of all the
commerce Of the country IS tru1aport-
ed over wagon roads and that tli' tax
imposed by the miserable cJ0iticn
OF most Of those roads ou as'Icul.I'
rul products between tn starting
point aud M. railroad station ue river
lending h equal to the charge q "a
common carrier to their posni { dcI
unatIon.
Mr. Rankhcad ~ firm ocl "a
N" policy 90 GOV '.'rcnt ~ "a i'r.
proving the public mghw.N' 10: 'hc
country. lIc insists that CONGRESS has
thc same power TO improve The posi-
roads tina, " has to approriaic mon
~ to improve rivers and haibora. to
irriga,c land and ,o assist Ia iho con.
structlon ~ railroads
"Ot all civilized countries ON earth.
Say, Nj Bankhlad. "this country has
the poorcs, roads IN all that IL prosrcs
slyc. except good roads. Il stands nrst
In material wealth. In varied coui.
mcrce IN products of agriculture cot
ton. meat. corn. wheat. tobaccor-nnd
products of iron. steel aud timber, IN
he number of miles ~ railroads. in
the opul"uce of cities. In the per cap
TIA wealth ~ the people. u stands
superior ~ CySry Cthrr nation. u
feed and clothes the largest part ~
mankind. and yet the prime producers
~ this wealth and greatness have less
done Tor them than has been done FOR
the same cflss in any other country
All Of which Is true but are not the
farmers responsible to great cN.
tent at least. for alleged ncgicct1 IN
lGmuch 0s ~ per cent of all commerce
Is moved on the dirt roads ~ a cos,
" abou, ?5 cents ten TO the mile
and AZ this cost falls upon the farmer
good roads should be hls Chlcf concern
but do farmers As class manifest as
much interest In good rtads move
mcn,s generally a. 10 tho urban pop
ulaiions7 IN the legislators from The
rural districts represent, ihe good
roads sentiment In the state legisla
'urc more strongly than DO those from
the cities?
AS a rule tho farmers appear Ia b,
quite indifferent to the good road
problem vhes they might, by oonecr,
~ action. force i,s ccasid ration upol
the legislative body In a way 20 pro
mote results They have 10 in thei
power 20 secure such legislation rs
FOR example. the employment ot stat.
convic;s In the construction aui I'm
| proycmon; of public highways. but {
Is not on record that there has eyo
been any united orort on the part o
the farmers In that behalf To shoy
;ho enormous taN that bad roads lev
upon the farmers and how much o
legitimate profit IS consumed In trans
pOr,atIon from the farm 10 the raH
road station. il may De- stated that IN
cost Of transportation per ton. hors
rower, Tor Ave miles. Is the same y
for $50 miles by rail- or lOOo miles D
stesmshlp.
This Is whcrc roads are bad Wher
they are hard and smooth the cost ,
rcduccd imm, nscly and the saylii
goes to the farmer Who uses the IN
proved highway The saving IL 81
time and money. In the wear and tea
~ teams and uagons. aS well as In IN
number tina, mus, be cmp,oySt. Tn
farmer oush; 10 b. able 20 see tho .,
vantage and economy OF SOD road
and 20 be willing 90 make some o6oi
to have them.
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