The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-05
PUBLIC ROADS.
Their Beneficial Results aud How to
Attain Them.
BY Dr. Joseph Pratt. state Geologlst
of North Carolina.
(COntfnued

that farmers will be able To take ad-
vantage Of market fluctuations in
buying and selling; and to take ad-
vantage OF any demand that may
arise for any of their products. An
up-country town needed fruits and
vegetables TO supply its market
which was bare. and such stuff was
selling at high price. Farmers
living within only few miles OF this
town had apples. potatoes. cabbage.
etc, which were spelling on their
hands and they were greatly in need
OF all the money they could get for
these products. And yet; II was just
about as hard for the farmers to car
ry their goods to market over the
boggy clay hills as it would have
been across a wide river with nothing
but a little birch bark canoe to cross
In. Who suffers i'm this case? The
consumer suffers just as badly. as
the farmer. Both have to pay the
penalty for the bad roads. This is
not the only instance in which both
lose; II is so nearly every year.
A few years ago a cotton grower
held his cotton for a predicted adj
vance in price. He was justified in
doing this as cotton went to twelve
cents but the cotton grower was uu-
able to take advantage of this good
price as he was unable to haul his
cotton TO market on account of the
muddy condition OF the roads and
ne was not over five miles from town.
What he lost would have been suf-
cient TO have paid not only his roao
tax but all his taxes for many years.
There Is a third practical result
from good roads. regarding which
most OF our people have paid but lit
tie or no attention. and that Is the
saving in the wear and tear on
horses. harness. and vehicles. and the
saving I'm time OF both men and
horses. which Is lost on account of
poor work. One who has not esti-
mated the cost to our farmers In the
repairs TO harness and vehicles. due
TO heavy. rough. and muddy roads
will be surprised at the enormous
sum to which this amounts. Little
thought L. given TO how many DAYS
I'm the year we have to leave our
horses and mules standing In the
stables on account OF bad roads. The
following estimates regarding this
loss in North Carolina has been made
by the Geological Survey Of North
Carolina
Loss on account OF the cost of
feeding. and loss OF time by the 1884,
900 country horses and mules dur
ing four weeks OF impossible roads.
efc.. - .. e. $1,6O0.0O0
Loss. on account OF bad roads, OF
the time and expense of mainten-
ance OF 100000 country horses and
mules: 10000 wagons and horses.
and wages OF 10000 tcamsters, dur
ing one month. -. e. S3,94S, 900
Loss, on account OF bad roads of
the services and expense of feeding
$4,000 town horses. and services OF
12.5O0 teamsters. and wear and tear
on 1850 wagons and harness. all
OF which could be saved by having
good roads and streets. =. $4,000
lOtal.. ..SlO,0l9,OO
These estimates were made some
years ago and the loss now is un-
doubtedly at least s11.OOO.OOO per
year.
The aggregate of these several
items gives "A grand total % over ten
million dollars. which sum the peo-
pie OF the State of North Carolina lose
and which sum might he saved an
nually To the State By a system of i'm
proved roads These estimates will
apply just as much To any other
southern State.
With the graded roads there Is no
over-straining OF horses. there is a
minimum amount Of wear and tear
on harness and wagon. and there is
no day I'm the year but that the roads
can be travelled.
The fourth benefit which our ru-
raj communities will derive from i'm
proved public roads Is In regard to
education.
This advantage that the people Of
a county will derive from good roads
cannot he too strongly emphasized.
Every fair-mlnded man desires to
give his children and the children Of
his neighhoors better advantages
than ne himself enjoyed. And whore