The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-08-28
Economy of Good Roads.

Economy of Good Roads.
In a recent publication by the De.
partment of Commerce and Labor.
dealing with the cost Of hauling farm
produce from the farm 20 the nearest
shipping point, IL was shown that on
account OF bad roadways the cost was
often greater than would have been
the freight by railroad across the con-
tinent.
The great railroad systems Of the
country in normal times spend mill
ions annually and in the aggregate
hundreds of millions in improving
their roadbeds and equipment, in
Strengthening out tracks, lessening
grades and otherwise reducing the
cost Of hauling.
The amount thus spent in improve
ments is largely in excess in some in
stances OF the total net earnings for
a decade. The necessity for the i'm
provements are recognized, however,
and they are made.
The more progressive States of the
Union follow the same course in re-
gard to the public highways. They
are the highways of the people. Every
dollar of improvement and every day
Of work put upon them increases the
value of all the property along such
highways.
Good roads add to the comfort and
well-being of all the people, whether
they live in town or country. A sys-
tematic and extensive program OF
road improvement is the sure index
of a progressive and prosperous COM
munity.
1t is estimated that ninety per cent.
Of the farm crops Of the United
States are hauled by wagon. The av-
erage haul of all farm crops is twen-
ty-nye miles and the average cost
twenty-five cents a ton mile. 1t is
estimated that good roads through
out the country would reduce the
cost to ten cents per ton mile. In
other words, the saving in the wear
and tear on vehicles and farm stock,
saving in time Of the farmer and the
increased weight Of each load, would
reduce the expense of transportation
by wagon sixty per cent. On cotton
alone the saving would be $5,00O,-
900, on wheat SO, 100000.
In view of the tremendous cost Of
highway improvement, it is natural
that the individual States have in
clined to look to the Federal Govern
ment for aid. There are 100000
miles of roadway in the United
States, of which less than two per
cent. are improved.
One means by which the aid of the
Government is sought to be secured
is by having Uncle Sam improve the
roads over which the mail is carried.
There are 925, 900 miles of dirt roads
now traversed by the rural routes.
In some instances routes have been
entirely abandoned on account of the
impassability of the roads.
The power of Congress to "estab-
lish postoffices and postroads" has
been held to include dirt roads, and
thus the way is open for the Federal
Government to engage in highway
construction.
thirty bills were introduced seeking
Government money for road improve
ments. Mr.. Bell, of Georgia, favored
the establishment Of a good roads
bureau in the Agricultural Depart
ment and the appropriation of s10,-
100000 annually for highway i'm
provement. Mr.. Bourke Cochran, of
New York, presented bill providing
for the construction of a national
boulevard from ocean to ocean along
the line of the thirty-fourth parallel
of latitude. other members had 9TH
er plans. but none of them received a
favorable report. They were pigeon
holed in committee.
The United States is waking up to
the loss caused by bad roads. The
farmers are taking hold Of the mat
ter, and that means an era of road
way development and improvement Is
at hand. Constitution.