The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-04-12
HERsERT Q. PHILLIPS ON GOOD
ROADS

The American farmer pays more
FOR hauling his produce from his farm
90 the nearest market town or rail-
way station than the farmer of any
other country In the world. Accord
inK 20 statistics obtained from the
department of agriculture. it costs
che American farmer 10 cents per
ton-mlle 90 haul his hay to market;
che same amount for cereals; 20
cents for tobacco; % cents for wool
and potatoes. and "a cents for cot
con.
In France II costs for hauling per
ton-mile ia cents: in England, II
cents; In Italy, cents; in Germany,
from &c 10 IL cents; in Belgium, a
fraction over 10 cents. These fig
urea show that the American farmer
pays from 40 to rs per cent. more for
hauling than the farmers of the Eu-
ropean countries above named.
Here Is another comparison no less
startling; Steamship transportation
on the Great Lakes costs $1.25 per
ton for 1900 miles: by steam railway
II coFts that for a distance of $50
miles: By electric power that amount
Is consumed In Is miles. and by horse
power over the average country road,
the sl.25 IL eaten up In every miles.
These are facts that every farmer
ought 20 study.
u II fair 10 the farmer that rivers
are made navigable and harbors more
spacious n he cannot bring his pro-
duet 90 the landing. save at an enor-
nous cost for hauling? What good
does Il do him that the railway sta
ton n but a few miles away if half,
or even more. of his profits is eaten
up by Transporting his farm product?
And though the nearest market town
be bat a few miles distant how does
that benefit him IL the roads over
which he must carry his product are
such that the cost of hauling the pro-
duct 20 the depot is almost equal to
the freight he has to pay?
This government has been more
than liberal I'm aiding in the building
of railroads and improving the riv-
ers and harbors. Now let it begin to
be az least approximately as generous
IN helping TO build good roads, and
thus help the farmers, from whose
pockets have come a good many of
the millions that have gone to the
Improvement of railroads and rivers.
Good roads win increase the mon
ey value OF every farm. just as an
electric trolley line increases the
value OF property by which it passes
The price per acre of a farm, the only
outlet from or access to which today
is an unimproyed dirt road, will in
crease % per cent. the minute good
macadamized road passes by it. This
l. not a mere assertion. but is based
on the experience of men whose
farms have been benefited by good
roads
Fiorida's greatest need is people
and good roads. Give us good roads
and We will get the people.
With an area almost as great as
that OF Georgia, We have a population
OF only 100000. Only five acres out
Of every one hundred in this state is
In a state Of cultivation.
Don't YOU think some of your tax
e.. Mr.. Farmer. ought to be spent fol
the construction OF good roads as well
as for the improvement of rivers and
harbors?
Mr.. Sparkman has never opened
his mouth In favor of good roads in
congress,
n took opposition to get him to say
80 cut OF congress-and he said il
mighty weak!
no YOU believe railroads are anx
ious % see good roads throughout
this country?
DO you believe MIR. Sparkman will
work against the interests and de
Eires OF his client. the A. C. l.. rail
roads
u you had an attorney, and he
should work against your interests
how long woud you keep him?
The A. G. l.. still keeps Sparkman
therefore the A. c. l.. must be salts
ned that he has not worked against
its interests.
Let as have more good roads and
fewer war vesseIsi