Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-02-07
CAMPAIGN ron BITTER ROADS


New Mexico is not alone In the agi-
tation for better country roads. The
people In u large number OF the states
are waking up to the fact that the
country loses hundreds Of millions
annually through the unnecessary.
cost OF local transportation. Those
who have given attention to the mat
ter are prepared to show that what the
farmers of the United states actually
lose from the lack of good highways,
would be sufficient in three years to
nay for first class roads in every
township and there Is no place In
The United States whore this want Is
moro seriously felt than IN our own
territory.
In Kansas. where the need OF bet
ter roads is not half as pressing as
Il is In New Mexico, the question Is
being vigorously agituted an over thu
state only a few days ago an ad.
dross on the subject was delivered be-
fore the governor and the legislature
by Mr l. ". Page. one OF the gov
eminent experts on good roads, in
which he presented an array OF facts
ana figures which VIII be actually
startling 10 n who has not studied
the subject. Upon this point we copy
as follows from the Topeka state
journal
Mr. Page declared that the CON-
Atruction Of good roads throughout
the country would make possible q
saving Of $3.50, 000. 600 u year to the
farmers. THE agricultural. forest
ana similar farm products In the
United Statcs." he said. amount to
2ja.000. 600 ons or twenty-five per
cent of the railway haul of the coun-
Try. The average haul from the farm
70 the shipping point is nine aud
four-tenihs miles, and tho average
cost ~ from 20 to 20 cents per ton
per milo, making q total OF S"5f2.03O,-
coo as the cost of hauling agricul-
tural products over the country roads
Of the United States.
I'm France. Germany ana Eng
land tho average cost per ton per
nlile is 10 cents. ana ia some places
as low as cents. II we could cut
the cost of hauling agricultural pro.
IN the United states half ~
IL would make the average llW
cents per ton per mile. IA cents
more than la England and other Ei.
countries, and stll make a
of more Than S2sn. 600. 400 al
year.
In 1897 aud 1906 ocean rates
the highest Ia several years. but
{ is q fact that the cost OF hauling "a
.on Of wheat from New York To I.iv-
800 miles. was n ana six
cents less than IL cost the far
ncr TO haul the same ton OF wheat
from his farm nine and four-tenths
miles Co tho railroad station for ship
nent TO Ncw York.
Mr.. Page showed that there was in
noighborhood OF tive and one
iaif million miles OF public road Ia
his country or this 10000 miles
stone roads OF macadam. and
miles were gravel roads
Practically an of these improved
are neal large cities OF in pro-
.rcssi,c states.
u have seen a recent report from
he French eood roads authority.
aid MIR Page in which u was
hown that the good roads OF France
re actually OF moro benefit to the
mall peasants OF MAT country than
hc raiirads
"Engiand snends 1 e.O0o.0 900 a
ear ON good roads. and 81 nov has
se,eee mites OF hard rock roads. In
ne United States IN 1904. sse.ooO.0 Gee
vas spent on the roads OF tho coun
~. which means ssoa 600. 600 In inn
'roved roads IN ten years. The 80.
900 miles OF maeadam roads ana the
.eAooo miles Of gravel ronds have.