The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-03
GOOD ROADS.
Are Absolutely Necessary to PrOdut
 Profitable Farming. '


 Are Absolutely Necessary tO Produce
 Profitable Farming. .'
 Ed The Advertiser
 In their replies to my letter oI JuIy 31st, 1908, on the subject of diversinca- tion of Southern agriculture and lndus- tries, some of the editors to whom IL was sent asked me to write them rom time to time on matters of interest to the people of our section. This has led me to take the liberty of address, ing you on topic of importahee to all our people especially to the farmers or
 If the farm is to be profitable it must not merely produce aRundant crops. but its project must be put means of transportation they may ultimately be carried before they reach the final consumer. our farm products way and the condition of the road leading from the farm to the shipping point or to a near by consuming center such as manufacturing town anectS and the value of his farm. The con- dition of the road controls the size of the load that can be hauled over carried. An improvement by which the farmer Is enabled to carry. with the same vehicle and the same team, load seventy five or one h@25red ger cent heavier will result in a su1st21 tial saving in his time and in the wear and tear of his vehicles and teams. The construction of good roads leading from a market town has practically the same effect as bringing the farms nearer to town. It extends by several miles in every direction the area of bly engage in market gardening and dairying That this Is true has been effectively demonstrated in those To- caIities in the Southern States and in other sections of the country where road improvements have been carried out intelligenuy and systematically.
 The cost to the farmer of hauling his products over poor roads is not always appreciated, for the reason that it is rare that a farmer pays for hay ing his hauling done. The United made an investigation of this matter, however and the results show the cost for cotton, for instance, to be an average rate of twenty seven cents per HIS miles. That road improvement would materially reduce this cost is shown by the following striking state ment in the Year Book of the Agricul- tural Department for 1906:
 If 1t were possible to increase the average weight of wagon load of bales. as it now is. to four bales, with out increasing the cost of hauling the load. the saving on a crop equal to the $2.OO6 900; and If the average load of wheat now 55 bushels, were increased by 20 bushels the saving. effected in haullng crop ike that or ISVO would be more than $S,000. 000."
 In addition to what may be termed the commercial aspect of good roads they have a highly important social aspect a well. They bring the farmer into closer touch with the world at large He and his family are not fore ed to remain at home for days at a time because the condition of the roads may make travelling unpleasant if not difficult. Good roads Insure efficent and prompt rural mail deliveries. plac- ing the newspaper on the table of the farmer early on the day of it's pubhca- ton. enabling him to transact much of his business by mall and take ad- vantage of early information as to luctuation in the prices of his farm products. Good roads mean that the farmer and the members of @.s family can enjoy to a greater degree the so- ciety of their neighbors and friends in the town and country They mean that his children can be more regular in school attendance and can receWe to a greater degree the advantages oi education. They mean the bring Ing closer together of the town and country with advantages on both sides. TOT as the farmer Is benefited by being brought Into closer touch with town SD all the business interests of the town prosper as the result Of the facility with which the farmer ano his family can do their shopping. Gooo roads also benefit the inhabitants oi towns and cities by affording facilities for pleasant country drives. They Tn vita the business man to the estao'