Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-06-14
ROAD
DING
TO LESSEN COST OF LIVING
Government Bulletin Shows How
Hauling Is cheapened In South
Actual Figures Given.

Good roads are an important factor
In the reduction of the cost of living.
At least that is the theme of the latest
farmers bulletin of the department OF
agriculture, which shows that the ben
eft from improved highways does not
accrue only to automobilists, but also
to the farmer and the shipper of prod
uce of all kinds. For instance, there
are parts of the south, according to
the bulletin, In which the time required
for hauling goods to market has been
reduced from twelve to two days by
the Improvement of the highways and
a saving OF three dollars a day In
drivers, pay alone thus has been effect
ed. Really good roads would save the
cotton states of the south approx.
mately $2,000.0000 according to the de
partment, which gives these figures TO
prove its contentious:
I'm the cotton states OF the south the
total cost of hauling the cotton crop
In 1911. including the seed, was $37,.
375,634. Amy system of road improve
ment throughout this zone which
would reduce the annual hauling
charge five per cent. would effect
saving of s1.S6S.781 year From these
figures 1t would appear that 1t would
be good business to incur an expense
for road Improvement, even IL such
investment entailed an annual inter
est and maintenance charge of $1,000,
900 to the community of cotton states"
There are certain direct economic
or money advantages which follow the
improvement of public roads In every
community" says Acting Director
Sargent of the department in the bull
letin. These advantages are probably
most apparent in the reduced cost OF
hauling.
Certain dependent or reflex eco
nomic advantages also arise In com
munity where roads have been i'm
proved. The increase In the value OF
farm lands is an example Of the indi'
rect economic advantages of improved
road conditions. 1t should not be con
sidered, however, that. In presenting
the advantages of improved roads the
direct increase in the cost of hauling
and the increase in farm values are
entirely separate and independent. The
farm increases In value partly because
the cost of hauling Is decreased.
Whatever methods are used to i'm.
prove road, the improvement for
hauling purposes is due to three
causes-the betterment of the road
surface, the reduction of the grade and
the shortening of the length. On such
an improved road the time required to
haul a given quantity of material a
given distance is reduced. The reduc.
tion may be largely due to increased
speed of hauling. to increased load or
to both. 1t is important to recognize
that for transportation purposes re.
duction of time is equivalent to a de.
crease of the distance from the mar.
ket centers. 1t is easy to see, then,
why the increase of farm values must
follow improved roads. for their effect
In to bring the farms. In sense, near
er the towns. The fact that on roads
with improved surfaces hauling be.
comes largely independent of the sea
SON of the year or weather conditions
means another very considerable re
duction In hauling costs. 1t also means
that many of the limitations OF the
number and kind of farm operations
are Immediately removed.
I'm order to fix ones ideas on the
reduction In the cost of hauling due tc
the Improvement Of roads. the trans
portation OF goods to the railroads and
of farm produce to marked should be
considered. The cost of this work In
the United States at present is high
and is due mainly to steep grades and
yielding road surfaces on unimproved
roads. When grade exceeds rise Of
six feet to the hundred feet In hori
zontal measure, 1t becomes an increas.
ing hindrance to traffic. On any grade
In addition to the surface conditions
the force of gravity must be overcome
TheShorse must also raise his OWE
weight and. because OF the manner ir
which his strength is applied. 1t be
comes less and less available as the
grade increases. 1t must always be re
membered that the worst grade on any
road tends to limit the load that can
,.n.n -xo~ eho onttro roah