The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-02-22
GOOD HIGHWAYS
ADD TO WEALTH
CONTINUED from first pago.)

tons. and of miscellaneous other pro
duce, 1000, 600 tons. making a total
approximately S,400, 900 tons. Thus
we find that the cost to the farmers
of the state of Nebraska for hauling
to market, or the railroad station, an
average distance of ten miles at %
cents per ton mile, is 19,300,000, not
taking note of the expense of the
transportation of live stock over the
roads. If anything, these estimates
to find out the exact figures they
would be much higher. What holds
good of Nebraska in this regard, APP
plies TO other states of the west, only
in some of the newer states the eX-
pense is from % to 40 per cent high
er, owing to the poorer character of
the roads. This is a wheel tax" and
one that has serious effects other than
the actual expense in itself. There
is the difficulty in the children at
tending school when the roads are in
impossible condition; the annoyance
to the farmer in the loss of time
which could be employed in Droduc-
ing more wealth; in the social inter
course of the people, etc.
In England where the roads are
kept in far better condition than in
this new country, the estimate of
road tax" the cost of transportation,
is only 10 cents per ton mile, and
in many parts of the kingdom, not
in excess Of eight cents. In France,
which nation is accredited with hay
ing the best roads in the world, the
ton mile cost of hauling produce to
market is never above nine cents, ex-
cepting in rough and billy sections,
but the average for the whole of the
nation is not in excess Of 9 cents.
There is another feature that is
worthy of most careful study. That
is the additional value given to farm
lands through having good roads.
Some years ago, when the late J.
Sterling Morton was the secretary of
agriculture, among the circulars is
sued by his department, was one bear
ing the title Money Value of Good
Roads to Farmers" This was a stu
diously prepared paper by Prof. w.
c. Latta, OF Purdue university. The
matter was based upon the reports
made by farmers in forty counties in
Indiana. 1t principally related to the
influence of good roads upon farm
values. 1t must now be taken into
consideration, that since 1896, when
the paper was prepared, farm lands
have advanced from % to 40 per CEN
in value in Indiana as we'll as in
other agricultural sections Of the
United States. First. Professor Latta
discovered that the increase in the
selling price of land on account of
good highways. was an average of
$6.4S per acre. Second, that the es-
innate average increase per acre
from improving all the public roads
of the forty counties, would be 50.
Third, that the estimated average
cost of converting common public
roads into improved highways at that
time, was $1,146 per mile. Fourth,
that the estimated average annual loss
per 100 acres from poor roads was
s76.2S.
These figures are interesting. The
estimated increase Of 80 per acre
means that good roads would inhance
each section of farm land, $3.50
The average length Of road about a
section Of land, Is two miles. The
cost, as ascertained by Professor
Iatta. for road improvement, s1,14t
per mile, would mean that in orde,
to improve the roads for each section
} of land the cost would be 50, 2s2, OF
: $3.46S less than the increased value
accruing to the land through the road
4 Improvement.
With fair prospects for federal ait
: and with the different states more
active than ever before. the outlook
q for good roads throughout all the ma
t ton was never more promising thar
Q In the beginning Of 1912.