The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1910-06-01

has been made in our campaign and
the outlook is 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
International. 1t 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. 1t bears directly on the
cost of living. Practically nothing
Is now produced where it is consum-
ed, hence the wheel tax" or cost
| OF moving the produce to market
must be figured on every commod-
ity.
1t is estimated that the average
length of wagon haul for agricul-
tural products in the country is ten
| miles. and that the cost is 25c pei
| ton mile. Also that the amount
| hauled annually is more than 20O,-
100000 tons. This means the enor-
nous amount of s5OO.UoO.vUO. ann :
ally paid as wheel tax
In France, Germany and England.
on improved roads the ton mile
cost is less than ten cents. On this
basis our hauling would cost us
20O.OOO.0O0 annually instead of
$5OO.OOO.OOO, giving a difference of
$300.00O.0OO as the annual penalty
which we pay for poor roads. II we
assume that there Is 2.0O0.0OO
| miles of road in the United States
and that an average cost of $500
per mile would put them in first
class condition. we reach the as
tonishing conclusion that In four
years time we would completely pa.
for good roads out of the penalty
We now annually pay for poor ones.
Let US come nearer nome In
rrowers county I estimate that
there are $4,000 acres of irrigated
land and 10000 acres OF hay LAND
and land cultivated without irriga-
ton. making a total crop acreag,
OF 100000 acres. This land pro-
duces marketable crops ranging
from ton per acre to 20 tons per
| acre. Let us assume that the aver
age production on all, including
sugar beeds and alfalfa crops is
IL 1-2 tons per acre. This gives a
total production of 25O.UUO tons.
Let us assume further that so per
cent of this or 10000 tons is
marketed at an an average haul
of five miles and at a cost of 20
| cents per ton mile. This gives a
total cost of $4,000 10 hauling
our crops to market each year. Add
to this the cost of hauling lumber.
| coal. feed. machinery and other sup
plies from the market to the farm.
which we will assume will amount
to 33 1-3 uer cent Of the cost of
marketing the farm products. or
| $4,000. This gives a grand total
of 100000 per year. We will neg
iect the matter of buggy and auto
mobile travel in our estimates
although these are important items
and have a decidedly strong bear
ing on the good roads question.
We have then reached the con-
ciusion that under prevailing con-
ditions, we pay an annual wheel
tax" of 100000. This is figured
on a basis of 20 cents per ton
mile. II we accept the statement
that with first class roads this cost
will be reduced to 10 cents per ton
mile. we thus cut this cost in half.
We are therefore paying 100000
per year aspenaity for poor roads
IN Prowers county, Can we afford
to do 1T
Let US look atthis problem from
another standpoint There are in
the neighborhood of 500 miles Of
open highway in the county. In
2 1-2 years our 100000 annual
penalty would provide a fund suf-
ficient to put this 500 miles of high.
way, exclusive of river bridges. in
first class condition, at a cost of
$500 per mile. Why not spend this
100000 year building roads in
stead of using up time and wear
ing out horse flesh. pulling over
soft roads. sand hill and mud holes.
Who doubts that 1t would be a pay
ing investment? What farm is the
that would not increase in value
more. one dollar per acre per yea
by having first class roads on all
sides of 1t.
Gentlemen this is a subject for
serious consideration and l would
like to see the farmers and other
business men of Prowers count.
take hold of It in earnest.
The following persons were cleo
ed resident vice-presidents to assist
the president IN such ways as he