The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-08-03
GOOD ROADS Cheaper LIVING
ECONOMISTS SAY THEY HAVE
BEARING ON HIGH PRICES.
Farmers Interested For Many Rea-
sons. Betterment of Highways
Lessons Cost of Living


sons. Betterment of Highways
Lessons Cost of Living.
Improved roads in the agricultural
districts, followed by a more general
use of motor vehicles by farmers, are
offered as a solution of the high-cost-
of-living problem by a writer in the
National Grange. First, and as the
more important of the two sugges-
lions he places good roads; the mo-
tor vehicles will come naturally then,
ne thinks, and contribute their share
toward the better conditions.
According to the writer, it is in
the fact that the population is becom-
ing farther removed from the food
supply, rather than in the fact that
food production is more costly than
formerly, that the real reason for the
present high cost of living must be
sought, Then he argues that good
roads and the motor vehicle will
bring the sources of food supply
closer to the consuming population.
Every commodity" says the
writer, pays a wheel tax since
nothing is nowadays produced where
1t is consumed, and a direct result
of the crOwding of the population
into the industrial districts is an in
crease in the retail price of food due
to increased haulage.
Average Haul of Ten Miles.
1t has been calculated that the
average length of road haul of ag-
rlcultural produce under the present
conditions of rural transport is ten
miles, at cost of % cents per ton
a mile. The aggregate amount han
died is at least 100000 tons an
nually. This gives us as the direct
wheel tax paid by the ultimate con-
sumner the gigantic annual sum of
| half billion dollars. Many years
of experience in France, Germany
and England have shown that on i'm
/ proved roads in fair condition the ton
mile cost should never exceed 10
cents. This would give the cost of
| hauling 200, 100000 tons an average
distance of ten miles as $200,000,-
| 600
| In other words, there is a direct
| addition to the cost of living of the
nation as a whole of 100000 per
annum, which is quite unnecessary
and due simply to our inferior road
! systems. If we take the total road
mileage of the United States as O.
! 900 it follows that every mile
of unimproved road means a net loss
to the country of at least $3.50 per
annum. And this charge is actually
met in the shape of increased food
prices, principally by the class who
| can least afford to bear 1.-THE wage
! earners"
Attention is called to a recent
speech by James J. Hill in which he
said the wealth of the French people
increases by about $1,000, 100000
every year, and adds that France has
the most superb road system in the
world. Two other effects of good
roads are mentioned, and both act
! ing favorably on the purse of the
city consumer One is that good
roads will increase the population of
the farming districts by making res
idence there more desirable, and the
other is enhancing the value of farm
lands by making them more profita-
bly, productive.
The writer, arguing from the prem
ises he has established for himself
holds that if good roads reduce the
cost of living and bring back popu-
lation to the country districts, cur
tail the power of the middleman and
increase the power of the farmer
each of these ends can be achieved
more quickly, more certainly and to
a greater degree with the aid of the
motor vehicle.