The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-02-18
Movement in Interest of Better
Highways.
Continued from first page


would now dare to take this system
from the country The expenses in
Cured in the operation of this sys-
tenn have been far more than repaid
by the advantages accruing to the
country and the increased value OF
property.
When the Federal Government
organizes a practical and sensible
system of extending aid to thepublic
highways of this country it will prove
a blessing equal to the rural mail
route / know of no expenditure OF
Federal money that would bring
more benefits or advantages. Be-
sides, under modern civilization, the
citizens of one State use the roadster
another State, and as there is much
interstate travel it is but proper that
the Federal Government, which has
control OF interstate commerce,
should aid in roads construction.
About three-fourths Of the popula-
ton of Virginia live in the country.
and the pleasures OF country life, the
development OF farms and agricul-
ture are dependent upon the condi-
ton OF the roads, and are inseparably
interviewer with the public road i'm
provement. This class OF people de-
serves the most generous treatment
at the hands of the State authOrl-
ties.
The cities are as much interested as
the country in road improvement.
In order for the cities to grow and
develop their industries and COM
merce to purchase country produce
and sell country customers, it is
necessary that the roads should be
passable and furnish an easy and
cheap means OF transportation.
Virginia cannot afford to be back
ward in road improvement and con-
struction. Virginia possesses in the
many rivers that penetrate the Com
mOnwealth, i'll the great railroads
that run through all sections OF the
State from east to west and from
north to south, transportation facil-
tiles excelled by no State. If she will
only supplement these by construct
ing to them good roads the magma
tion cannot picture the great wealth
which must accrue to this State.
The material development will be
almost unspeakable. No State sur
passes Virginia in her varied agricul-
tural wealth and production. This
great development is being wasted
by the lack of good roads to furnish
easy and cheap transportation OF
the produce to the markets. 1t is
estimated that it costs on the aver
age in the United States of % cents
a ton per mile to get produce over
the roads from the farms to the place
OF shipment on the railroads and
rivers. The average haul OF agricul-
tural produce and lumber to the
place OF shipment is about nine miles.
On good road it is estimated that
the cost per ton is less than II cents
per mile.
FARMERS PAY THE COST.
If the farm produce of the United
States was hauled over good roads
instead of bad ones, the annual saw
ing to the farmers would be far in
excess of $25O,O0O,OOO. In addition
to this the farmer stands a loss
almost equalin hauling the purchases
he makes to his farm; also include
in this the loss resulting from the
produce he never sells, but let's waste
on his farm on account OF the
wretched roads. Thus we can make
an estimate of the mud tax paid
each year by the farmers OF this
country. Complaint may be made
OF the various other taxes, but the
highest tax of the farmer to-day in
America is the mud tax collected
when he travs ID the wretched roads.
The elimination of the mud tax by
good roads is the great problem con-
fronting the farmer to-day, and his
progress and prosperity is inter-
woven with the solution of this ques-
tion. When good roads prevent this
loss the great prosperity OF the farm
er is assured, and his increase OF
wealth almost beyond estimation.
Experience has shown that wher-
ever roads have been properly con-
structed, farm values have immedi-
ately increased. Nearly one-half of
the land of Virginia to-day is not
under cultivation. If good roads
were constructed this half would at
once be utilized for agricultural pur
suits, and the increased value and in
creased production would add great
ly to the aggregate wealth of the
State. The increased wealth from
this source would, in few years,
more than pay the State and coun-
ties for the expenditure of money
made. The experience of Virginia in
recent years demonstrates this. The
varied progressive policies recently
inaugurated in Virginia, have been
accomplished without any increase
OF taxation whatever. These pro-
gressive policies have brought to
this State splendid immigration,
have opened up new farms, have
made old farms more productive and
valuable, have increased the traffic
over the railroad and steamboat
lines, and from all of these improve
ments, due to Virginia's progressive
policies, has come an increased reve-
nue. without any increase of taxation.
III these progressive policies are car
AICu Gum t1uti u III
velopment is thus brought to the
State, the revenues to the State will
further increase and thus easily pay
for the expenditures incurred.
PARSIMONY rs UNWISE.
Frequently unwise parsimony in a
State is as disastrous as unwise par
simony in an individual. A farmer
who will incur no expense toimprove
his farm will never receive any profits
from its cultivation, but the farmer
who will make wise and needed i'm
provements, by his increased profits
will soon become rich and prosper
Gus. A State can never reach a full
development and prosperous con-
dition, and deserved power and in
fluence, unless she is wise enough and
broad enough to adopt and adhere