Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-04


lJuly 3lst, 1903 on the subject OF d.
versification OF Southern agriculture
land industries. some OF he edifofS
to whom IL was sent asked me I"
write to them from time to time on
matters OF interest 10 the people OF
our section. This has lel Tue 10 take
1.-The liberty Of addressing lou Oh a top.
lie of Importance to all our people and
ESPECIALLY to the farmers Of the
ISouth.
II the farm is TO be profitable 1t
must not merely produce abundant
crops, but its products mus be put
where they can be sold. BY what
lever means OF transportation they
lmay ultimately be carried before they
reach the final consumer, Our farm
products move primarily over the
county highway, and the condition OF
the road leading from the farm to the
shipping point or to near by con-
Stunning center, such as a manufactur'
ing town, affects materially the pro-
fits 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 al
which it can be carried. An improve
ment ty which the farmer is enabled
to carry, with the same vehicle and
1.-The same team. a load seventy-five or
one hundred per cent heavier, will re-
suit in substantial saving In his
time and In the wear and tear OF his
yehicls and teams The construction
OF good roads leading from the mar
ket town has practically the same ef-
feet as bringing the farms nearer to
the town. 1t extends by several miles
in every direction the area of terri
tory in which farmers can profitably
iengage In market gardening and dairy
ling. That this is true has been eft
Ifectively demonstrated in those local.
ties in the Southern States and I'm
other sections Of the country where
road improvements have carried out
intelligently and Systematically.
The cost to the farmer of hauling
his products over poor roads is not al
ways appreciated, for the reason that
it Is rare that farmer pays for hav-
ing his hauling done. The United
States Department OF Agriculture has
made an investigation Of this mat
ter however and the results show the
cost for cotton, for instance, to be an
average rate of twenty-seven cents per
ton per mile for an average haul OF
ll.8 miles. That road improvement
would materially reduce this cost is
shown by the following striking state
ment in the Year Book Of the Agri-
cultural Department for 1906
III 1t were possible to increase the
average weight Of wagonioad Of cot
ton in the United States from three
bales, as 1t now is. to four bales. with
out increasing the cost Of hauling the
load, the saving on a crop equal to
the one picked in 1906 would amount
, to 100000; and II the average load
of wheat, now 55 bushels. were in
creased by 20 bushels. the saving ef-
fected in hauling crop like that Of
1895 would be more than 100000
In addition to what may be termed
the commercial aspect Of good roads
they have q highly important aspect
as well. 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 time
b cause the condition Of the roads,
may make travelling unpleasant IL not
difficult. Good roads insure efficient
and prompt rural mail deliveries, plac-
ing the newspaper on the table OF the
farmer early on the day Of its publ
ication, enabling him to transact
much OF his business by mail and to
take advantage Of early information
As to fluctuation in the prices Of his
farm products. Good roads mean that
4 Q h. 70 h4 ~ =,
family can enjoy to a greater degree
the society Of their neighbors ana
friends in the town and country.
They mean that his children can be
more regular in school attendance
and can receive to . greater degree
the advantage Of education. They
mean the bringing closer together Of
the town and country. with advan-
tages on both sides. for AZ the farmer
Is benefited by being brough; into
closer touch with the town. 50 all the
business interests Of the town prosper
As the result Of the facility with
which the farmer and his family can
do their shopping. Good roads also
benefit the inhabitants OF towns and
cities By affording facilities for pleas
ant country drives. They invite the
business man to the establishment OF
country and Suburban homes. such rs
he can enjoy only when he 10 assur-
! ed that the condition Of the roads will
be such As to enable him to reach his
place Of business promptly in all kinds
Of weather.
| think II may tru,hfully he said
that there are few matters Of such
general importance to all the people
OF any community rs the provision
Of good roads, and I believe, there
fore. that all Of Ms Who have the pro-
gress ard prosperity Of the South at
hears shouid do all In our power TO-
aid in ths creation OF public opinion I
favorable TO road improvement. The
system that sbould be adopted in sny
locality Ia one on which II would not