The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-26
VALUE ROADS

In these days OF federal stock-taklng,
when Uncle Sam Is striving to ascer-
tain the dollar value of his forests,
soils, inland waters and mines, II is
interesting to know that the best es-
Innate yet made gives to Americas
public roads worth of $l,720,S3s 900.
These rather startling figures, which
have been assembled by the statistical
experts OF the Office OF public roads OF
the United states Department of Agri-
culture, tend to prove that America
has expended money with typical
prodigality, for such an enormous
amount would, If wisely spent, give
TO the United States a system OF roads
worthy of the name.
There we're IN the United States at
the close of 1904 approximately 2,15O,-
900 miles Of public road, but of that
vast mileage put 43,450 are of macad-
am and 12446S OF gravel while S,512
have been surfaced with special ma
terial, the total improved roads being
but TIA of the total.
The cost of the macadam road is es-
timated at $4,000 a mile; the gravel at
81 500, and the others at 81 600 a mile
Beyond these stretches there are ,957,-
600 miles of earth road, liberal esti-
mate for it's cost, including grading,
building bridges and constructing cul-
verts being $500 mile. The right OF
way, based on average acreage valua-
tions as given in federal census re-
ports, and estimated on 40-foot
width for the entire distance is
s342 1000 900
There, then. Is what the United
States has to show In the way of high
ways and highway values. 1t isn't
creditable showing by any means, for
-the percentage of improved roads is
small compared. to the total mileage,
while the money, had II been wisely
spent, would nave paid for the con-
struction of over 1900 miles OF
modern macadam highway.
For the past few months those who
have been reading of the doings of the
federal government have been deluged
with large figures, but even the find
ings Of the divisions of forestry and
soils of the conservation commission
are no more amazing than those hav-
ing to do with the public highways.
Figures are available which tend to
prove that were the roads of this
country universally improved as are
those of France, Germany or Eng
land, the saving, first to the farmer
and then to the consumers OF farm
products, would reach such stupendous
totals that in nve years 1t would equal
the present value of all American
highways.
This statement is based on the find
lngs of the bureau OF statistics OF the
United States Department of Agricul-
ttre Of the federal bureau of the CEN
gus, and the industrial and land bu-
reaus of twelve great railroads, 1t has
been ascertainei that fully 250OOO, 900
tons of freight sire hauled each year
over these roads in wagons, without
consideration given to the enormous
tonnage taken TO wharves and docks
for transportation by water.
1t has also been determined that the
average cost of hauling ton one mile
is 20 cents, the high rate being due to
the well-nigh impossible conditions of
the vast percentage of roads, over the
national routes of France it costs the
farmer but Z cents to haul, for there
one horse can quickly and easily draw
heavier load than four horses can
take over many thousand miles of
American highway. The general aver
age OF hauling In Germany France
and England is about 10 cents per ton
mile, or less than half what 1t costs
in this Countrywide average haul over
the American roads from farms to
market or transportation points is
about 9.4 miles; therefore, the mere
cost OF hauling the $50 900, 600 tons is
in excess of $500, 100000; one-half of
which would be saved every year were
he roads in good condition.
II people living in cities give any
consideration to bad suburban roads,
hey selhshly figure that they are not
personally affected, and that the
farmer Is the one who has to bear
the burden" No greater mistake was
ever made. for the cost of practically
all products which come from the
farm have their prices based upon the
cost of transporting them to cities
The man or woman living in a large
city pays higher rate for the wool
which enters into his or her garments
than he or she would be forced to pay
If the farmer was not robbed in the
first instance, by, getting that wool to
market
The price of the farm products
which go on the tables of the men
and women of wealth living In the
large cities is based, not upon the
work of the farmer or upon the labor
Of The animals upon his farm, but UP
on the cost of transporting the pro-
ducts of fields, and vineyards from the
point Of origin to the point of desti-
nation.
When the men and women living in
cities realize that they are forced to
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