The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-13
SWANSON PLEADS
FOR GOOD ROADS

OF pubic roads. In the course of his
remarks, he said:
Another great detriment that has
come to this nation from its wretched
country roads is that il has forced
the people TO leave the rural sections
and congregate in towns and cities.
rms fact is Strikingly disclosed ny the
census returns. In 1880 only "a per
Sent, OF our population dwelt in our
CltlsSi IN 1850, 1875; in 1900 the per-
ceptage was 30; in 1910 il was 46.
rms explains why so many acres of
Iernle land still remain untitled,
Wnlle tae city, with it's unsanitary and
unwholesome tenements, il crowded
with human beings whose standards of
iElng and methods Of life result in
'helr mental, moral and physical de-
cay; Statistics gathered by the Office
OF PUolc Roads and compared with
the repSrts of the United States cen
suS reveal that in twenty-five coun-
ties, selected at random, possessing
only 9.1 per cent. Of improved roads
IN 1SO4, the decrease of population
averaged SLIP for each county for
the ten gears between 1890 and 1900.
The records of this department fur
ther show that in twenty-five coun-
ties similarly selected, which possessed
an average of forty per cent OF i'm
proved roads. there was an increase
averaging 31,095 to the county. These
significant facts show more eloquent
~ than language the great benefits
accruing from improved roads. Sta
tlstics gathered from the same source
show how education and school at
tendance are affected by improved
roads. These statistics show that in
five States in which about thirty-four
per cent. of the roads are improved
that SeVenty-SeVen out Of each 100
pupils enrolled regularly attend the
public schools. That in other five
~ Toe ~, L. .1,
only amount to is per cent. that only
htty-nine out of each 100 pupils en-
rolled regularly attend the public
schools. These figures prove more for
chilly than language the advantages
accruing TO education from good i'm
proved public highways.
Each census discloses that our ur-
ban population is very rapidly in
creasing at the expense of our rural
sections. This is not desirable.
1t means an immense national loss.
not only financially, but morally. in
tellectually, md physically. The
pleasures and profits of country life
are largely dependent upon the CON
dltion Of the public roads. Social in
tercourse and pleasure are only posi-
BILE in those sections where comforta-
bic travelling Is possible over the roads.
Good school facilities and good pub
lie roads go hand IN hand. They are
companions which cannot be separated
Carefully gathered statistics disclose
/ t'at efficient country schools and the
attendance of scholars are invariably
dependent upon the condition OF the
public roads.
The country has been the great
nursery which has furnished the men
Of genius and patriotism who have
builded this mighty nation.
We should do what we can to en-
courage our population to remain
there, and develop our wonderful soil
and agricultural resources.
Then, the agricultural people of this
nation are the mighty sources of pat
riOtism and courage who will preserve
this nation in the coming hours of
storm and stress.
Another great loss sustained by this
nation on account of its wretched pub
lie highways is that it has left unde- !
VelOped and uncultiVated more than
400, 100000 acres Of available and de- /
sirable land in the United States. Il
our roads were properly improved this |
land would be at once occupied by |
thrifty and prosperous farmers. thus
adding greatly to the national wealth |
and power. Farm lands would greatly |
increase in value from improved pub |
lie roads, and the country population |
would rapidly increase, greatly to the
betterment Of the nation, both NOR
ally and materially.
Some economists have estimated |
that the annual loss to this nation on
account of wretched country roads ex-
ceeds more than $40O,00O,0 900 annual
~. ! do not believe this is an eXag-
geration.
There are s5O.OOO.OOo acres of i'm
proved and unimprOved farm land in
the United States. 1t is estimated by
the Agricultural Department that
good roads would increase the value
of this land from 50 to SO per acre.
This great increase of value would
more than pay for the cost of i'm
proVement
1 feel justified in saying that one of
the paramount questions before the
American people today is the i'm
proVement of our public road system
The farmer, in the future in order to
increase his profits must reduce the
cost OF transportation. AS the farm
ing lands of Canada, South America
and Africa are opened and developed.
the farmers Of this country will have
greater competition. To meet this
competition they Will have to reduce
either the cost of production or the
cost OF transportation. / hone this
congress VIII not ADJOURN without re-
ducing greatly the cost OF production.
The cost of production in this coun-
try is greatly enhanced by the excess
slve tariff duties imposed upon every
thing purchased, on account of tba
Pavne-Aldrich bill.
The Democrats Of the House of
Representatives have sought to bring
the farmer relief from these excess
siVe eXactions by passing a bill known
as the farmers free list bill, which, if |
enacted into law, will greatly reduce |
him the cost of living and the cost /
of production. 1 hope the Senate will |
promptly concur in the passage of |
this bill, and this deserved relief will |
come to the great agricultural masses.
The cost Of transportation to the far I
mer is composed, first, of hauling
over the public roads, and then over
the railroad or steamboat lines to the
markets. Within the last seventy
years the cost of transportation over |
the railroads and waterways have |
greatly decreased, while the cost of |
transportation over the country roads |
has been increased. In 1887 railroad |
rates were u cents per ton per mile. |
Now 1t is estimated that the average |
cost OF hauling by rail is rs mills per
ton per mile or about one-ninth of |
the original rate. Seventy years ago
the charge for hauling on the old |
Cumberland Pike was II cents per
ton per mile. This charge permitted |
a profit. 1t is now estimated that the
cost to the farmers, without profit.
is % cents per ton per mile. Thus.
while transportation over railroads
has npcraa Cpd ahnuf e