Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-06-01
FRANCES FINANCES
AND ITS GOOD ROADS
Are Closely interviewer AS Report
Made Public Fully Shows.

mdue Tupiic fuiiy SHOWS.
Francis B. LOOMS, Commercial Ag-
ent at st. Etienne, France, reported
April %. 1891. as follows:
THE road system of France has
been one of the most steady and po-
tent contributions to the material de
velopment and marvellous financial
elasticity of the country. The far
reaching and splendidly maintained
road system has distinctly favored the
success of the small landed proprie-
tors, and in their prosperity, and in
the ensuing distribution of wealth,
lies the key to the secret of the won
derful financial vitality and solid pros
perity of the French nation"
MIR. f. W. Warburton, from James
City county, says:
Il own good deal of real estate
on the road recently built from Will
liamsburg to jamestown and can safe
ly say | think this property has been
increased at least fifty per cent in val
ne by reason of this road having been
built. SO far as driving over this road
today and what it was three years ago
there is so much difference that |
could not possibly express it."
Mr.. w. N. Ruffin, of Danville,
writes;
The people have found out that
they can travel these roads one day
as well as another the year round.
That they can carry az least twice
as much as on the dirt road; that
they can travel twice as fast and that
the wear and tear on the teams and
vehicles is inconsiderahle, as compar
ed with the dirt road and further that
they are fast coming to the conclusion
that these macadam roads, apart from
the enormous advantages and comfort
they furnish do not in reality increase
the taxes of the individual, because
the increased assessed valuation com.
pletely offsets the increased levy nee
essary to meet the interest and sink
ing fund on bonds issued for road con-
struction."
ITO illustrate: Since tie road from
Danville to Design (three miles) was
started two years ago, fourteen new
houses have been built along the line,
which means fourteen new taxpayers.
gentleman who lives on this line of
road tried for years to sell part of
his land for $50 per acre. He has
since sold several parcels at 800 per
acre. A farm beyond The end of this
road, about six miles from Danville,
sold two years ago for 1925. The road
was started that way ard the owner
sold it for $4,000; the present owner
has refused $500"
The assessed value of all property
in Arlington township, Pa, in 1892
was $3,900,000 and the road tax for
that year $4,000 Expenditure of
hat amount produced no permanent
results in 1893 the township borrowed
$4,000 and in 1894 $4,000. The i'm
provement of the roads with these
funds resulted in a large increase in
population and value OF property. The
assessment for 1910 was 1885. 1856 and
the population has nearly doubled.
100000 of the amount borrowed has
been paid
In report issued by the State High
way Department of Maryland, 1899.
? his statement appears:
Santa Clara county, California. has
passed from the twenty-ninth to the
fourth place in the list of counties ar
ranged according to wealth and has
been of far greater value to the coun-
try as a means of raising the value of
lands and of putting the email peasant
in easy communication /
with their markets. than have the rail /
ways. 1t is the opinion of well-informed
Frenchmen who had made practical |
study of economic problems, that the /
suburb population out of total of 81. /
IS ascribed to its good roads.
The same report contains the fol
lowing
One of our consuls in Belgium saws
that emigrants refuse t. go to a re-
zion of bad roads.