The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-03-27

improved. while there are forty-fve
agricultural counties that have more
than 10 per cent improved. The aver
z 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 $65.79
per acre. In other words, the average
price of farm lands in the good road
counties was $17.29. or 35 per cent
more than in the poor road counties.
When we consider the fact that there
are s73,OOO,OOO acres of farm lands in
the United States the possibilities
along this line are rather startling.
Even assuming that the land would
be increased only IS an acre the total
enhancement on farm lands alone
would be $4,365, 900, OOO.
Improved roads will yield an addi-
tional income by enabling the farmer
to cultivate with profit land which
otherwise would be less probably en-
ployed.
There are about 400, 600 900 acres of
unimproved farm land In the United
States. An average annual profit of
so cents an acre on this land would
mean a net gain to the wealth of the
United States of 2O0.000,OOO a 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 yer bad
roads i%ntervenes between them and
the railroad station. A 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 $7.O3 and
corn $8.72, the average value of vege-
tables per acre is about $40 and of
small fruits $50.
There is Il steady trend Of popula-
ton from the country to the city, and
| this may be attributed to some extent
to bad roads. During the ten year pc
| Rod 100000 the cities gained 2,174,-
| 600 more people than the country. In
1860 only 1871 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 Is per cent.
With hundreds of millions Of acres
Of land uncultivated we have the spec
tacle Of hundreds of thousands Of hui
mar beings crowded into the cities
while year after year the human tide
rolls restlessly in from the country tc
furnish more consumers and decrease
the number of producers.
To prove that a 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 it has been found thai
only ~ per cent Of roads were i'm
proved in 1904. These same counties
show an actual decrease in population
averaging 3,112 for each county for thu
ten year period %1S9O-19OO. twenty-five
other counties located in the SAM
states containing 40 per cent of i'm
proved roads show an actual increas'
In population for each county of 31,O95
Whether good roads cause goot
schools, or vice versa, it is true tina
they exist together and that one Of tn
most important reasons for their i'm
provement is their effect on school at
tendance In the country. If the coun
try schools are to have a maximum eff
fciency in training and instruction tn
children must be afforded facilities 70
reaching them. With improved road
the graded school and the consolidate
school will replace the little one roon
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.