The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-10-07
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD ROADS.
The President OF the Southern Rail-
way Shows the Advantages of Cool
Wagon Roads, and Refers to the
Interest Shown by His Company IN
Their Extension.

washington, Sept. 80, 1908.
Mr.. Editor: In their replies to my
letter of July 31st. 1908. on the sub
ject Of diversification Of Southern ag-
riculture and Industries. some Of the
editors to whom 1t was sent asked me
to write to them from time to time on
matters OF interest to the people of
our section. This has led me to take
the liberty Of addressing you on a
topic Of Importance to all our people
and especially the farmers of the
South. F,
II the farm Is to be profitable 1t
must not merely produce abundant
crops. but its products must be put
where they can be sold. By whatever
means OF transportation they may ul-
timately be carried before they reach
the final consumer. our farm products
move primarily over the country high
way. and the condition OF the road
leading from the farm to tho shipping
point or to nearby consuming CEN
ter. such as a manufacturing town,
affects materially the profits OF the
farmer and the value Of his farm
The condition Of the road controls the
size Of the load that can be hauled
over 1t and the speed at which 1t can
be carried. An improvement by
which the farmer Is enabled to carry.
with the same vehicle and the same
team, load seventy-five or one hun
dred per cent. heavier. will result in a
substantial saving In his time and In
the wear and tear OF his vehicles and
teams. The construction OF good
roads leading from q market town
has practically the same effect rs
bringing the farms nearer to the
town. II extends by several miles In
every direction the area Of territory
In which farmers can proftably en-
gage In market gardening and dairy
Ing. That this Is true has been ef-
fectively demonstrated In those To-
calities In the Southern States and
In other sections Of the country where
road improvements have been car
ried out intellisently and lsystemati-
caily.
The cost to the farmer of hauling
his products over poor roads is not
always appreciated. for the reason
that farmer/ pays for having hix
hauling done. The United States De-
partment Of Agriculture has made an
investigation Of this matter. however.
and the results show the cost for cot
ton. for instance. to be an average
rate Of twenty-seven cents per ton per
mile for an average haul Of 11.s
miles. That road improvement would
materially reduce e . cost is shown
by the following striking statement
In the Year Book Of the Agricultural
Department for 1905:
"If IL were possible to increase the
average weight Of wagonload Of cot
ton In the United States from three
bales. AZ II now is. to four bales, with
out increasing the cost OF hauling the
load. the saving on crop equal to the
one picked In 1905 would amount to
100000: and II the average load of
wheat, now IS bushels. were in
creased by 20 bushels. the saving ef-
sected in hauling a crop like that Of
1905 would be more than $4,000
00O."
In addition to what may be termed
the commercial aspect Of good roads
they have a highly important social
spect as we'll They bring the farmer
into closer touch with the world at
large. He and his family are not
forced to remain at home for days at
a time because the condition of the
roads may make travelling unpleasant
IL not difficult. Good roads insure ef-
fcient and prompt rural mail de.
liveries. placing the newspaper on the
table OF the farmer early on the day
Of It's publication. enabling him to
transact much Of his business by mail
and to take advantage Of carly in
formation as to fuctuatlon in the
prices OF his farm products. Good
roads mean that the farmer and the
members OF his family can enjoy to
a greater degree the society Of their
neighbors and friends in the town
and country. They mean that his
children can be more regular In school
attendance and can receive to a great
er degree the advantages OF education.
They mean the bringing closer to-
gether ot the town and country, with
adve ntages on both sides. for as the
farmer is benefited by beihs brought
into closer touch with tha towp en-