El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-11
BAD ROADS COST
MILLIONS YEARLY
Also Drive Americans to
Cities and Increase
Cost Of Living.

New Orleans, La, Nov. IA spe-
cial plea for good roads was made by
congressman j. E. RansdeIl, Of Louisi-
ana, in an address before the Farmers
congress.
MI Ransdelrs subject was 'Legis-
lation Farmers Should Ask For" He
said.
The principal matters on which
farmers need action. legislative or
otherwise, are to secure;
Organization and cooperation for
the best methods OF making and mar
Cheaper money on which to operate
their farms. and pay interest on their
debts. and
Good roads to cheaper transporta-
tiCn. enhance land values, and bring
many pleasures l. farm life
The best asset of the farm is the
health and happiness CT the human be-
ings who live on it
The farm was the training school
OF The men who control America to-
day and viii always be. Therefore
we must keep conditions on 1T as
healthy and good as possible.
This is a day OF organization and
cooperation maOng every class of
people. one of the most prosperous
agricultural industries in the Union, IS
fruit growing on the Pacific coast.
which is due mainly to systematic or
such attractive form as always to Sc
cure the highest prices.
Each county should have its local
farmers association, to study cOndi-
lions. compare notes, get the wisdom
which comes from much counsel, and
cooperate whenever it is possible in
making and marketing their crops, and
III everything OF interest to agricul-
ture.
Tt Is said that the farmers of Den
mark thirty years ago received only
twelve million dollars for their butter,
eggs and bacon, and now, as the result
of their market societies and cO-opera-
tive creameTies, the same articles bring
one hundFed millions a year
Nothing is more necessary to sue
cessfuu farming then good roads. AS
a class, farmers are heavily taxed,
especially in interest rates, but the
heaviest of all taxes on American ag-
riculture are the bad roads so generally
prevalent.
costs 15c more per ton, per mile to
move farm products over the bad roads
in America than over the good roads
of Europe Now. our farms produce
annually, about 250 million tons. one
third Of which is used on the farm, and
the remainder is carried an average OF
nine miles at 15c a mile, equal to $685.
100000 excess charge paid every year
on account Of our poor roads
And in my judgment the greatest /
evil Of bad roads is that they make !
our boys ana girls dissatisfied with |
farm life and drive them by millions !
into cities Nan is a social being, es- J
pecisuy in his youth, and in rural !
districts where roads are often impass- (
abe, there Is scant opportunity for any 1
1t is heavy task to reach 4
the school and the church; il is diff ]
cult to visit ones nearest neighbOrs, |
ana almost impossible to attend thea I
tiers and places Of entertainment in 4
the nearest town
The back to the farm movement [
though enc Of the most important OF I
tho cay, is progressing slowly. Cities 4
have grown by leaps and bounds,
while there has been a very slow l
growth in the country. Consumers
have increased more rapidly than pro-
ducers. and that is one cause Of the !
high cost of living. When we secure
real good roads they viii make farm
life so much more pleasant and more I
profitable that the present exodus from /
country TO city viii cease"