Goldsboro weekly argus., 1908-10-08
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
President Finely and his Grea,
Railroad, The Southern, are
Active in Building up
the Southland.
Washington, d. c., Sept. 80.
EDITOR ARGUS.
Goldsbore, n. G.

EDITOR ARGUS
Goldsbore, n. G.
Dear Sir:
In their replies to my letter of <Jaily
81, 1908, on the subject OF diversified
ton of Southern agriculture and indus
tries, some OF the editors to wdaGm it
was sent asked me to write to them
from time to time on matters of inter
est to the people of oar section. This
has led me to take the liberty of ad-
dressing you on a topic OF Importance
to all our people ana especially to the
farmers OF the South.
If the farm is to be profitable 1T must
not merely produce abundant crops
but its products anust be put where
they can be sold. By whatever means
OF transportation they may ultimately
be carried before they reach the final
consumer, eur farm products move
primarily over the country highway,
and the condition of the road leading
from the farm to the shipping point or
to nearbv consuming center, such as
misunderstanding town, q fleets material
ly 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 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 team load seventy five
or one hundred 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 a market
town has practically the same effect as
bringing the farms nearer to the town
1t extends by several miles in every
direction the area of territory in which
farmers can profitably engage in mar
ket gardening and dairylng. That this
is true has been effectively demon
strated in those localities in the South
ern States and in other sections of the
country where road Improvements have
been carried out intelligently and sys-
tematically.
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 fer having his
hauling DONE ThekUnited 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 an average rate OF
twenty-seven cents per ton per mile
for an average haul of LIS miles. That
road Improvement would materially
reduce this costis shown by the follow
ing strikingS statement in the Year
Book of the Agricultural Department
f.r 1906
Iii W possible to increase the
average weight OF a wagonlOad OF cot
ton in the United States from three
bales, as it now is, to four bales, with
cut increasing the cost of hauling
load, the saving on a crop equa- to the
one picked in 1905 would amount to
wheat, now 55 bushels, were increased
by 20 bushels, the saving reflected in
hauling a crop like that of 1905 would
be more than $s, ,eOO.OOO.''
In addition to what may be termed
the commercial aspect of good roads
they have a highlys social aspect as
well. They .brings the farmer ints
closer touch with the sworld at large.
He and his family are not forced to re-
main at home for days at time be
cause the condition of the roads may
make travelling unpleasant if not di fiji
cult. Good roadsiinsure efficient and
prompt rural maila deliveries, placing
the newspaper onsthe table of the far
mer early on the day ofits publication
enabling him to transact much of his
business by mail and toz take advant
age of early informationE as to fiuctua
ton in the prices of his farm products
Good roads mean that the afarmer ano
the mem bersEof his family can enjoy te
q greater degree the ssociety of theil
neighbors and friends in the town and
country. They mean that his children
can be more regu]artin School attend
ance and can receive TO a greater de-
gree the advantages of education
They mean the bringing closer together
OF the town and country, with ad-
Vant ages Oh DOIH Slu0SJ lOi DIS IH0 fhI
mer is benefited bysbeing brought iato
closer touch with the. town, SO all the
business interests of the. town prosper
as the result of the facility with which
the farmer andah ibis family can do theil
shopping. Goodiroads also benefit the
inhabitants of towns and fcities by af-
fording facilities for peasant country