The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-01-26
VALUE ROADS

Miles of PupIic Road Only 4s,45o
Are Macadam--Average Cost OF
Hauling Freight % Cents Per Ton,
in France Cents.
In these days Of federal stock-taking,
when Uncle Sam is striving to ascer-
tain the dollar value of his forests,
soils. inland waters and mines, it Is
interesting to know that the best es-
innate yet made gives to Americas
public roads a worth of $1,T20,339 900.
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, IL wisely spent, give
to the United States a system Of roads
| worthy of the name.
There were in the United States at
| the close Of 1904 approximately 2.150,-
900 miles Of public road but Of that
vast mileage out 43,450 are Of macad-
am and 124.46S of gravel, while SSH
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 $500 mile; the gravel at
81 500, and the others at ST 900 a mile.
Beyond these stretches there are 1857
600 miles of earth road, liberal esti-
mate for its cost, including grading,
| building bridges and constructing cul-
yerts being $500 mile The right Of
way, based on average acreage yalua-
lions as given in federal census re-
| ports, and estimated on 40-foot
width for the entire distance Is
| s342, 900 900.
| There. then. Is what the United
States has to show in the way OF high
ways and highway values. 1t isn't a
creditable showing by any means, for
the percentage of improved roads Ii
small compared to the total mileage,
while the money, had 1t been wisely
spent, would have paid for the con-
struction of over $4,000 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 five years 1t would equal
the present value of all American
highways.
This statement is based on the find
ings OF the bureau of statistics OF the
United States Department of Agrieul-
ture of the federal bureau of the CEN
sus, and the industrial and land bu-
reaus Of twelve great railroads. 1t has
been ascertained that fully 260, 000, 600
tons of freight are hauled each year
over these roads In wagons, without
consideration given to the enormous
tonnage taken 10 wharves and docks
for transportation by water.
1t has also been determined that the
average cost Of hauling ton one mile
Is % cents, the high rate being due to
the well-nigh impossible conditions OF
the vast percentage of roads. Over the
national routes of France 1t costs the
farmer but 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 it costs
in this country. The average haul over
the American roads from farms to
market or transportation points is
about 94 miles; therefore. the mere
cost of hauling the $50 900 900 tons Is
in excess OF s500,00o.O0 one-half Of
which would be saved every year were
the roads In good condition.
! If people living in cities give any
consideration to bad suburban roads,
they selfishly 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 large
city pays higher rate for the wool
! which enters Into his or her garments
J than he or she would be forced to pay
! IL the farmer was not robbed In the
first instance by getting that wool to
market
, The price of the farm products
J which go on the tables of the men
! and women OF wealth living In the
| largo citipl Is faSAd not un0D the