The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-11-24
From Saturdays Daily.

cost of bad roads to Minneapolis and
the bearing that poor roads have
on the profits of farmers in Hennepin
county and other districts tributary
to Minneapolis. This investigation
will be what is called farmers
census" and it is said, will take on
national Importance because from the
information and date secured it will
place road building on a different
basis.
This census will be conducted in
a way similar to the federal popula-
ton enumeration with the exception,
however, that farmers only will be
included in the count and different
questions which pertain specifically
to the purpose in view, will be asked.
That the matter of good roads is no
mean subject to be discussed at the
fireside of country store only is
seen by the activities taken, not only
of the farmers and citizens OF the
smaller towns of the commercial and
publicity clubs of the large cities
like Minneapolis. These men who are
at the head of the movement realize
the Importance of good roads to
themselves as we'll as farmers.
Census BY George M. Palmer.
The Minneapolis Tribune in re-
cent article OH this matter stated
that the plan of taking farmers
census" will be the first of it's kind
ever conducted in the United States.
This, however, had specific reference
to Minneapolis, for George M. Palmer
of Mankato has conducted little
census" of his own and with ell
tightening results. Early in the year
of 1910 he wrote large number of
letters to farmers living near Man.
kato and vicinity. He formulated a
number of questions which would
bring out certain phases, of the road
question which has recently received
so much attention at the hands OF
commercial clubs.
Mr.. Palmer has long been known
as one of the champions of the good
roads cause and has taken much of
his time and trouble to help the
movement forward. The following
is a part of the letter which he wrote
in getting this census.
First. How many loads of prod
uce do you haul from your farm to
this market in a year, including all
Second. About how many trips
per year do you make to local
creamery when nothing is hauled but
milk or cream:
Third. About how many times
year do you drive to town without
a load?
Fourth. About what is the cost of
hauling a load equal to fifty bushels
of wheat over a good graveled road,
and over a muddy, rough, dirt road?
In answering this question, kindly
compute your time as worth about
SO per day, for man and team while
actually on the road.
Five. How long does it take to
drive to town with load, and with
out load, over good, smooth road,
as compared with rough or muddy
road?
Six. Would you consider your
farm worth more, if a first-clasS
gravel road was maintained in good
order from the city limits to your
farm, and if so, how much per acre
would be your estimate of the in
creased value?
Seven. Would you probably drive
into town oftener if you had a first
class road than you do at present?
Checking Up the Average.
In checking up the answers to
these questions the average will be
taken in each case. The answer to
the first question varied largely ac
cording to the size of the farm, but
very seldom did farmer drive to
market over ninety times during the
q 90
four times.
Not all farmers answered the
second question as many do not haul
milk or cream to the creameries but
make butter themselves and sell
direct to customers. Others again
have milk routes, taking turns with
neighboring farmers. On the whole
the farmers averaged fifty-siX loads
of this kind year.
The third question showed that on
the average each farmer drove to
town and church ninety-two times
during the year.
Most farmers, in answering the
fourth question, seemed to be of the
opinion that the cost of hauling fifty
bushels of wheat on a graveled road
amounted to about $1.5O according
to the distance, while on poor
road it reached 81 and sometimes So
One farmer answered; at is beyond
me-" which shows that the benefits
derived from good roads is almost
beyond estimation. Others again said
that it cost them just twice as much
over a poor road.
To the fifth question the majority
answered that it took them almost
twice as long to drive over poor
roads.
Brought Out Variety of Answers.
The question that brought out the
largest variety OF answers was the
sixth, as some had very decided
opinion as to the value of their
property, if excellent roads connected
1t with the city, while others were
undecided. One answered that the
increased value would be about $40
per acre. Another took the opposite
opinion and gave this terse reply:
NO sir, the acres do not produce
more therefore," Yet this farmer
was strongly i'm favor of the graveIed
roads. Others answered about that
they would consider their land in
creased in value at the rate of 81 an
acre, and still others thought that
their farms would be worth from 10
tn liz nor cent mora ~ .,rn 80 g..