Evening journal., 1912-11-11
MONDAY NOV. II. 1912.
coon ROADS And FARM VALUES.

GOOD ROADS AND FARM VALUES.
THE ONCE Of Public Roads Of the Department OF
Agriculture has issued bulletin on the benefits
Of improved that should be read by every Della
warean II and many Of the senseless
uterances OF those who have fomentlng in this
State opposition to the dupont Boulevard that great
est Of all good roads projects here in the East There
is section of that bulletin which Is specially de-
serving OF the persual OF those who have been led 10
believe that the construction OF such boulevard in
State would notzresult in increased land values
in the rural districts.
The bulletin says it is a matter Of common obserya-
tion that when any community has passed from a con
dition dominated by bad roads a condition which is
characterized by good roads land values in that com
muniy advance Il is plain that no system OF good
roads directly improve the soil fertility or the
quality of farms. II Is equally true that good roads
and do directly improve the site value or the value
which accrues farm by virtue Of It's situation
with respect 10 markets. schools and towns The Fed
eral experts also say that in dealing with this matter
OF increased farm values from a strictly economic
viewpoint it is worth remembering that where farms
have advanced in value the advance due essentially
to decreased hauling costs. The advance in farm
in other words, measures partly the increased
uo Of the farm as plant for the business OF farm
The Federal authorities say that increment Of value
vhich is due to those things that are described as
social advantages improved social conditions has
90 numerical measure. When his road is improved
sho landowner appreciates the improvement and fre-
ruenty sets an increased value upon his land Ii is
difficult however so analyze the entire increment Of
falue which follows good roads There Is no doubt
that the cost Of good roads by form Of tax
alton, which, in instances the landowners
20 add to The selling price OF their land that amount
which they estimate the good roads has them in
taxes This process Is distinctly observed in city
property transfers where direct assessments for sew
ers sidewalks and payements are invariably added to
the original cost OF the property The important point
that is becoming more and more understood by land
owners is that good roads require considerable in
Vestment of capital and furthermore that such an in
Nestment is paying one. Here are few instances
Of actual conditions which have been observed in yar
GUS parts Of the country.
In Lee County, Va. farmer owned 100 acres be-
tween Ben Hur and Jonesviile which he offered TO
sell for $500. In 1908 this road was improved and
although the farmer fought the improvement he has
since refused $4,000 for his farm. Along this same
road tract Of iss acres was supposed to have been
sold for $4,000 The purchaser refused the contract
however, and the owner threatened to sue him After
the road Improvement and without any improvements
upon the land, the farm sold to the original
purchaser for $4,000
In Jackson County. Ala. the people voted a bond
issue Of s2500oO for road improvement and improved
20 per cent of the roads, The census Of 1900 gives
the value of all farm lands in jackson County as s4ao
per The selling value OF that time was from "a
10 SIS per The census OF 1910 places the value
and the selling price is from SIS TO S25 per acre
The price Of farm land, like that Of any other COM
modify is ruled by the relation between supply and
demand When the price of farm land advances IL
measures readjustment between the supply and the
demand. This readiustment as has been seen is
sharp and immediate in many cases One distinct item
Of increased values is becoming more evident from
year 10 year; that is immigration into the rural dis
u'cs where road conditions are favorable In this
respect the Of good roads has its greatest
qfrcnce upon the owners Of automobiles There are
ropoated instances Of this kind in New England and
those Stases which have been active in improving
. "'r roads by State aid
These are things upon which Delaware farmers who
are seeking ignt upon the good question geuer-
= and the dupont Boulevard question particularly
should ponder before committing themselves against
The good roads project The facts forth above
cover only phase Of the good roads question but
i is an exceedingly important that comes close to
the pocket OF every farmer who owns land ia a section
affected by contemplated good roads work