The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-05-23

improved. while there are forty-fve
agricultural counties that have more
than 10 per cent improved. The aver
age price Of farm lands in the sixteen
counties, according to the report of the
United States census. was $3.50 per
acre, while the average price of land
in the forty-fve counties was SG5.T9
per acre. In other words the average
price of farm lands in the good road
counties was s17.29. or 80 per cent
more than in the poor road counties
When we consider the fact that there
are S73,000,00O acres Of farm lands in
the United States the possibilities
along this line are rather startling
Even assur.lng that the land would
be increased only s. an acre the total
enhancement on farm lands alone
would be S4.365O0O.OOO.
Improved roads will yield an addi-
tional income BY enabling the farmer
to cultivate with profit land which
otherwise would be less profitably EN-
ployed
There are about 400000000 acres of
unimproved farm land in the United
States. An average annual profit of
80 cents an acre on this land would
mean a net gain to the wealth of the
United States of 100000 year.
Truck products and small fruits must
be delivered quickly to market If any
profit is to be realized Truck and
small fruit farms cannot be maintained
with profit If a long haul over bad
roads intervenes between them and
the railroad station. 4 network OF
first class hard smooth roads will al
most Immediately increase the number
Of truck. fruit and dairy farms in any
community While the average value
OF wheat per acre is only SOB and
corn $S72, the average value of vege-
tables per acre is about $40 and OF
small fruits $50.
There is a steady trend Of popula-
tion from the country to the city. and
this may be attributed to some extent
to bad roads During the ten year pc
Rod 1890-1900 the cities gained 2,174,-
600 more people than the country. In
1860 only 161 per cent Of the popula-
ton lived in cities, in 1900 the city
population represented about 81 per
cent Of the total, and now 1t Is proba-
bly, about As per cent.
With hundreds Of millions of acres
Of land uncultivated we have the spec
tacle of hundreds OF thousands Of hui
man beings crowded into the cities.
while year after year the human tide
rolls restlessly in from the country to
furnish more consumers and decrease
the number Of producers.
To prove that relation exists be-
tween the question Of population and
roads the following illustration may be
cited:
In twenty-five counties selected from
eastern, southern. western and north
western states Il has been found that
only ~ per cent OF roads were i'm
proved In 1901. These same counties
show an actual decrease in population
averaging 31l2 for each county for the
ten year period lS90-l900 twenty-five
other counties located In the same
states containing 40 per cent OF i'm
proved roads show an actual increase
In population for each county Of 3l,095
Whether good roads cause good
schools. or vice versa. IL is true that
they exist together and that one Of the
most important reasons for their i'm
provement is their effect on school at
tendance in the country. II the coun
try schools are to have maximum ef
fciency in training and instruction th'
children must be afforded facilities fol
reaching them With improved road
the graded school and the consolidated
school Will replace the little one room
one teacher schools so prevalent IL
many sections Of the country.
The possibilities Of a region OF i'm
proved roads are made apparent b!