The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-03-29
Their Money Value.


The federal agricultural depart
ment is preparing 90 issue bulletin
which illustrates. in startling fash
ion. tho actual money value of good
roads 20 the farmer and the people
generally. As we'll as tho financial
losses they are now Indirectly sus-
tanning trop poorly maintained thor
oughfares.
The bulletin gets n tho very meat
" the proposition by showing. as the
result OF careful Investigation. tho
average cost Of transporting aericul-
tural products from the farms 10
shipping points--an expense that in
evitahly falls upon the farmer and
lessons his profits.
II Is estimated that the average
load OF cotton is Zoe pounds. the
distance OF the haul lis miles and
the cost of hauling sixteen cents per
hundred pounds. The bulletin then
sums up the cost of transporting the
leading American farm products in
actual money and the no less tangi-
bic investment of time. rs follows.
The total tonnage OF farm pro-
duets hauled on country roads in tho
United States is not known. but OF
twelve leading products il is osti-
mated that nearly 10000 600 tons
were hauled from farms during the
crop year l905-6. at a cost OF about
SS5 900, 900. or more than five per
cent. OF their value at local markets.
OF this traffic. 40,0O0,000 tons rep
resent the weight OF corn. wheat and
cotton. and the cost OF hauling these
three products was so, 100000.
The number Of working days
taken 10 haul twelve leading crops
from farms 10 shipping points during
the crop year 1905-6 is estimated at
l.i17,500, and the number OF loads
taken as 30,319,0O0."
The department makes very sensi-
BILE suggestions in the following
terms:
The distance limit of profitable
farming for a given crop may often
be extended by improving methods
and means of hauling. Better wag-
ons and horses may be used. roads
may be improved and better facili-
ties may be had for receiving the pro-
ducts at local markets and shipping
points. improvements OF this kind
tend 10 lessen the expense Of hauling
a load, and thus make ii profitable
for farmers to haul from greater dis
tanCcS.'
While these estimates are based
on general averages, it is fair to as
sumo that they furnish reasonably
accurate material for calculations
looking to the introduction OF more
economical methods.
There can, therefore, be littlo
doubt that IL the roads OF the South
and other portions Of the country
were improved TO a degree Of even
ten per cent, the cost OF hauling
products to shipping points would bo
perceptibly reduced. Less time,
moreover. would be required TO make
the designated haul-anOther factor
which can by no means be ignored
in the final summing up. Fewer men
and fewer horses or mules would be
called into requisition or taken away
from other tasks. The farmer would
find his profits gcnsibly increased, +,
and the opportunities for the cXton-
sion Of his work greatly multiplied.
These are only few OF the argu-
ments in favor Of a systematic cam
palgn. There are the equally undc-
niable ones OF the enhancement IN
property values, and the furtheranco
Of the social and educational facill-
ties Of the respective communities.
Evidences are not lacking that tho
sentiment in every Southern State IS
rousing to an appreciation Of the fact
that money spent in this direction IS
productive Of sure and substantial
dividends. -- Birmingham Agc-llcE.
aid.