The Holly chieftain., 1910-06-03
PRESIDENT SAM PORTER'S REMARKS

G.ntlemen: In calling this msetins Of the
Prowers County Cosds Rosds Association to
order. want make few Comments on the sub
ject Of good roads. both . they eject the
country at large and ~ they eaec, US LEGALLY in
Prowers county.
Ia the 6rst place wsni to take this sccasisn
to congratulate the people Of our coun,y who
are interested in the movement on the good
work already accomplished. Largely throus
the agitation initiated BY this orasni.ation,
scores Of farmers have constructed drain bitches
along their fence lines to prevent waste water
from reaching the roads. The county commis-
sioners and rosd overseers have been active in
this movement and have co-operated with the
people in making provisions for waste water.
! believe the quality Of their work hes improved
too. and better judgement, bean exc, cissd in this
execution. The various canal companies, lat
eral ditch riders an6 water users arc 10 be
congratulated also on their splendid efforts 10
control the irrigation water end keep it Of the
roads. While there are still plenty Of sbuses
and srousds Tor csmPlaint. yet on the whole a
great adqsnce ha. been made in our campaign
and the outlook 10 very encouraging.
The good roads movement is not merely local
in its scope but state wide; not merely state
wide. but national not merely national but in
teraational II touches directly or indirectly
every industry in every part Of the civilized
world. The cost Of transportation is one Of the
most important factors in industrial progress
it bears directly on the cost Of living. Practi-
cally nothing is now produced where is it con-
sun'ed. hence the wheel tax." o. cost Of NOV.
ins the products to market must be figured on
every commodity.
1t is estimated that the average length Of
wagon hual tor agricultural products in the
country s ten miles. and that the cost is 25c per
ton mile. Also that the amount hauled annually
j. more than zoo. 100000 tons. This means
the enormous amount $500. 100000. annually
paid as wheel tax
In France. Germany and England. on i'm
proved roads the ton mile cost is less than te.
cents. On this basis our hauling would cost us
S4OOOOO.OOO. annually instead Of $50O. .0O0. 900
giving . difference Of $3O0.OO0.O00. as the
annual penalty which we pay for the poor road.
II we assume that there are 100000 miles Of
road in the United States and that an average
cos. $500 per mil. would pnt them in 6rs,.ci.s.
conditisn. we reach the astonishing conclusion
that. in four years time. we would completely
pay Tor good roads out Of hte penalty we now
annually pay for poor ones.
Let US come nearer home. In Prowers
county estimate that there are 10000 acres o.
hay land and land cultivated without irrigation,
making total crop acreage Of 100000 acres.
This land produces marketable crops ranging
from ton. per acre to 20 tons per aore Let
US assume that the average production on all,
including sugar beets and alfalfa crops, is 21&
tons per acre. This gives total production Of
25O.0OO tons. Let us assume further tha go
percen. Of this. or 10000 tons. is marketed at
average haul Of FIVE miles and at cost Of
20 cents per ton per mile. This gives total
cost Of $l5O.OOO for hauling our crops to mar
ket each year. Add to this the cost Of hsuliae
lumber. coal. feed. machinery and other supplies
from the market to the farm. which we will as
sumo amounts to 80 l-3 percent Of tho cost Of
ma ke'idg tbs farm products. or $4,000. This
gives grand total Of $2OO. 900 per year. We
will neglect the matter Of buggy and sutomobil.
travel in eur estimates. although these are i'm.