The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-24
Why Lose Money?

There is no question that the trade
of Denison has been seriously affect
ed this month by the bad roads. The
merchants also have ahead of them
another distressing season of dull
trade when the snow melts and our
roads become rivers of bottomless
mud. The bad road is the worst enemy
of merchants in such town as Den
ison. 1t is easier for the farmer to
sit by the fire and make out his mail
order than it is to drive through miles
of drifts. For fuel and the heavier
necessities of life the farmer makes
across the fields, for the nearest
market, no matter how small and I'M
satisfactory it may be. Thus mer-
chant in a good town like Denison is
cut off in both ways. The dry goods
sales go to the mail order house and
the groceries and fuel sales go to the
small neighboring towns. The farm
|ers will benefit the most by a good
road system, but the merchants will
be a close second. At present market
values are high. Butter fat is at the
highest point known to the American
market. Hay sells at fabulous prices,
all that the farmer has to sell is at
the top-notch But the farmer is un-
able to take advantage of the prices,
ut
of the impa ssibility of the roads. One
of the heaviest taxes the farmer has
to pay is that resulting from the ex-
cessive cost Of hauling his products
over bad roads. A highway OF mires
and ruts in spring and snow drifts in
winter may be barrier to commerce
between country and town that will
cost the farmer many well earned
dollars.
Every good road built is an asset.
1t adds to the property value of the
country more than it costs. 1t in
creases the value of all forms of prop
erty but the value OF farm land most
of all. This receives the largest and
most direct benefit from good roads.
Good roads are an investment as sure
ly as building barns, drainage or any
other improvement that adds to value
The payment for the building OF
good roads ought to be extended over
period of years A good road, well
built and well maintained will lastI
more than one generation and there
is no reason why those who will get
the benefit should not help pay the
bills
There are 2,151,57O miles OF public
roads in the United States. During
the crop year of 1906 eighty-five and
one-half billions of pounds of farm
produce were hauled over these roads.
1t is evident that the slightest saving
in cost would assume striking proper
lions when considered for the entire
country. These crops travelled 20S,-
432,644 miles in being transported
from ldTIllS W Iuc lcdlcSl
point. The average cost of hauling
was 23 cents to haul one ton mile.
On the roads containing ruts and mud
the cost was 80 cents. On improved
reads kept in ordinary condition the
cost was II cents.
A reduction in cost from % cents to
II cents would mean an annual saw
ing of over $250,0O0,0O0. In other
words the people are paying nearly a
million dollars day as the penalty Of
bad roads, In addition to this loss
must also be figured the loss of profit
arising from the lack of good roads,
for a good road adds value to every
acre.
We will never get good roads under
the hap-hazard methods now employ
ed in Iowa. Such roads should be