The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-09-02
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Good Roads Increase
the Value Of Farms.
Intelligent Cooperation Neces-
sary to Improve Highways.

Intelligent Cooperation Neces. =
: sary to Improve Highways. :,
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The United States department of az
rlculture says that the states showing
high percentage of improved roads
have, on the average, relatively high
acreage values; while those showing a
low percentage have low acreage val
ues. While there are many factors,
such as quality of soil, the proximity
OF farms to markets, and relative pop.
ulation and wealth, which affect val.
ues of land, the Improvement of tn.
roads constitutes a most important
factor in the enhancement of farm
values. Such values have been known
to. advance on account of the improve
ment of the roads connecting the farm.
ers with market towns. The improve
ment of roads in the Northwest is
largely in the hands of farmers. If
they can be brought to realize that
their land values may be increased
by intelligent cooperation in making
better roads, while they will at the
same time benefit by having good
roads over which to do business
then, surely, the era Of such co-opera-
ton cannot be far off.
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A Washington Experiment Station
bulletin says that it is preferable to
have a wagon act as a roadroller
rather than a road-destroyer. This
would be accomplished by the use of
wide-tired and narrow-tired vehicles,
but Oh soft ground the wide tire rolls
over and upon the surface, while the
narrow tire cuts through and destroys
the trackage. Many European coun-
loaded vehicles. Austria requires a
tire four and three-tenths inches wide;
France, tire from three to ten inches
wide; Germany, tire at least four
inches wide. Every heavily-laden
wagon in France is regarded as road.
maker, and many freight wagons have
Il rear axle fourteen inches longer than
the fore, so that the hind wheels run
in line just outside Of the level
rolled by the fore Wheel u,,,
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A Washington Experiment Station
bulletin, in discussing the benefits
accruing from feconstructing GER
tain road on a shorter line, says there
is saving Of expense in annual main
tenance; in the time Of travelling; in
the wear and tear of horses, shoes,
harness and vehicles; and in the cost
of hauling; besides restoring to cult
walton 727 acres of land per mile.
Besides this, authorities agree. and it
ought to be a matter Of common
knowledge, that from three to five
times as great load can be hauled
on hard, smooth Surface as on
yielding, rough ope. This, if no other
consideration, should be an incentive
to farmers to exercise diligence and
Intelligence in improving the roads
over which their business is conduct.
3D.
The report Of the Kansas Expert
ment Station, on the use of oil on
roads in that state, seems to warrant
greater use of oil in road construction.
The experiment was tried on quar-
ter of mile of sandy soil, in October,
1905. Several applications of oil seem
to have been made, and each applica'
ton was followed by the harrow.
After thus applying one gallon of oil
to each square yard, the soil seemed
saturated to depth of from four to
four and one-half inches. After the
final narrowing, heavy float was EN-.
ployed to smooth the surface, when
work was suspended for week. Then
a tWelve-ton roller was used until the
bed seemed thoroughly firm. The
road was closed for week and then
opened for traffic. While it was firm,
it was not hard; but no injury result
ed from either heavy traffic or sharp
calked horses driven at a rapid gait
Freezing in winter did not appear to
affect it, and the oil coating seemed
to have the effect of keeping the un-
DERIVING soil dry enough to prevent
serious heaving by frost. The follow
ing spring, coat of oil was applied,
and this was lightly narrowed. and
floated When the report was made.
over two years later, the road was in
excellent condition. The grade was
slightly over an inch to the foot and
so we'll rounded that the rain water
quickly ran off.