The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-06
FINLEY URGES GOOD ROADS.
President of the Southern Railway
Shows How Interest of Farmers
May be Greatly Enhanced.

In their replies to my letter of July
III, l90S, on the subject Of diversifi-
cation of Southern agriculture and in.
dustrics some, Of the editors to whom
1T was sent asked me to write to them
from time to time on matters Of in.
tercst to the people Of our section
ums has led me to take the liberty of
addressing yon on q topic of impor-
tance to all our people and especially
TO the farmers Of the South.
If the farm is to be profitable it
must not merely produce abundant
crops, but it's products must be mt
where they can be sold. BY whatever
means OF transportation they may ul-
almately be carried before they reach
khe final consumer, our farm products
move primarily over the country high
way, and the condition Of the road
leading from the farm to the ship
ping point or to a nearby consuming
centre, such rs n manufacturing town,
affects materially the profits of the
FARMER and the value Of his farm.
The condition Of tho road controls
the size of the load that can be haul
ed over it and the speed at which it
can be carried. An Improvement BY
which the farmer is enabled to carry,
with the same vehicle and the same
DEAN, a load IS to 100 per cent heav-
ler, will result in substantial say
ang in his time and in the wear and
tear of his vehicles and teams. The
construction of good roads leading
from market town has practically
the same effect as bringing the farms
nearer to the town. Tt extends by
several miles in every direction the
raea Of territory which farmers can
profitably engage in market garden
ing and dairying. That this is true has
been effectively demonstrated in those
Localities in the Southern States and
IN other sections of The country where
road improvements have been carried
out intclligcntlv and Systematically.
The cost to the farmer of hauling
his products over poor roads is not al
ways appreciated for The reason that
1t IS rare that Il farmer pays for hay
in" his hauling done. The United
States department Of agriculture has
made an investigation Of this matter,
however, and the results show the
cost Tor cotton. for instance, TO be an
average rate Of 81 cents per ton per
mile Tor IN average haul of 11.S
miles. That road Improvement would
materially reduce this cost is shown
hy the following striking statement
in the year book Of the agriculture
department for 1906:
''lf it were possible to increase
the average weight of wagon load
or cotton in the United States from
three bales, as it now is, to four
bales. without increasing the cost of
hauling the load, the saving ON Il
crop equal to the one picked in 1905
would amount to $2,000,000; and if
the average load Of wheat, now s.
bushels. were increased by 20 bushels,
the saving effected in hauling a crop
like that of 1905 would be more. than
$4,000 O00.'
In addition to what may be termed
the commercial aspect of good roads
they have a highly important social
aspect as we'll. They bring the farm
or int" closer touch with the world at
large. tie and his family are not
forced to remain at home For DAYS at
time because the conditions of the
roads may make travelling unplcas-
ant If not difficult. Good roads in
sure efficient and prompt rural mail
deliveries. placing the newspaper on
The table Of the farmer early on the
day OF its publication, enabling him
to transact much of his business by
mail and to take advantage of early
information rs to fmctuation in the
price of his farm products. Good
roads mean that the farmer and the
members Of his family can enjoy to
greater degree the society of their
nclShb"rs and friends in the town
and country They mean that his
rhildrrn can be more regular in
school attendance and can receive 10
greater degree the advantages of
rdnratl"n. They mean the bringing
closer together Of the town and conn
try, with advantages ON both sides,
Tor as tn" farmer is benefited by be-
ing brought into closer touch with tho