The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-20
Cost of Living
Affected by Condition
Of Country Roads
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
Richmond, Va, Nov. 20.-Good
roads as related to the cost Of liv-
ing was discussed by United States
Secretary of Agriculture James Will
son. in an address here today before
the Good Roads Congress. He de-
clared the cost Of living would be
reduced when there was established
a more intimate relation between the
producer and the consumer. With
the increase in the good road mile
age. the parcels post. he said. would
perfect the facilities for getting from
the farm to the town.
Relations between farmers and
town folks can be established" he
exclaimed. for the prompt transfer
daily or weekly Of much that the
farmer produces and town people
consume. At present when the town
dweller pays . dollar. the farmer
gets half or less. With parcels post
the farmer would get more the car
rier would get his freight and the
consumer would get his supplies
promptly. fresh. and good. Dairy
products, fruits, meats and vegeta-
bles are transferred In this way In
other countries. with great satisfact-
fon to all concerned and with less
unhealthy food, fewer ptomaines and
less frequent stomach troubles"
The value Of farm land and the
extent and character Of production
thereon are Influenced largely, the
Secretary pointed out. by the condi-
ton of the public roads. Many pro-
ducts, he said, cannot be transported
for long distances over poor roads.
SO that farmers in such countries
must raise crops that are not perish
able. This works loss to both pro-
Queer and consumer. to the former
In that he must deliver his goods
when the roads permit to the lat
ter in that he must pay higher prices
than II good roads would permit the
farmer to deliver his milk, fruit and
vegetables with less wear and tear
on horses and wagons and in less
time.
Every farmer should, merely as
a matter of self-interest," said the
Secretary, "be strong advocate of
road improvement and should give
practical support to movement
looking to the betterment of present
conditions"
Turning to what has been done in
this direction by the Department of
Agriculture through its bureau of
good roads. the Secretary declared
that as result of object lesson roads
constructed by the bureau in various
states nearly 10000 miles of good
roads had been built. Last year
It was found from careful investi-
cation made in connection with
twenty-eight object lesson roads,
none Of them were more than a mile
in length. that $50 miles Of addition
al road had been completed and that
an increase of $1,000, 900 had been
expended in the work.
these object-lesson roads," he
ARE constructed under
the direction Of engineers from the
bureau Of good roads, whose servi-
ces are given absolutely free Of cost
to the local communities. although
the road itself must be built at the
cost Of the locality. Our laborator-
les for the testing of road materials
are now considered the foremost in
the world. and provide for the test
ing Of road materials to determine
their relative value. such tests being
made free of charge for any citizen
Of the United States. In addition,
our laboratories are working con-
stantly on the problems of devising
and combinations Of ma
terials for the construction and treat
ment of roads to meet modern traf-
nc conditions brought about by the
introduction of the automobile" He
spoke Of a number of experiments
made in various places with different
kinds Of road material.
Enormous exl ditures for road
Improvement during the past few
years. he asserted. make it necessary
for the work to be done right and
the moAey wisely expended. The re-