Milford chronicle., 1913-09-19
&c are likewise 81 indis.

roads everywhere are likewise Of indis
penssble value.
The commercial phase Of the question
while if not of more importance thar
/ the social, can probably be rendered
| more convincing by statistics.
| Il is estimated that more than FIVE bill
/ lion 5000, 600, OOO) tons Of freight per
annum pass over the highways of this
country with an average haul of a little
under ten miles. The average cost is
about twenty-three cents (23) per ton
mile; while on good roads, this cost
would not exceed eight cents (Sc) per
ton mile. In other words, at least one
dollar and a half (l.S0) could and should
be saved on every ton moved on our
highways. This means 81, 500, 900. 900.
Thus the total saving from good roads is
almost beyond comprehension.
Seven and one-half billions of dollars
per annum This would build fifteen f15)
Panama Canals a year, fifteen hundred
i, ,5OO) dreadnaughts a year it would
have built all Of the $50, 600 miles of rail
roads in the United States in a period Of
three 81 years. It represents one-quarter
(l-4) of the entire wealth produced by
this great nation, and the full amount
would be repaid in very few years.
FORTY BILLIONS IN FARMS.
Look at another phase Of the situation
The total value of farm real estate and
buildings in this country is over S40,-
600, 900. If only our present two million
1000, ,0O0) miles of highways were to be I
improved, these land values would be in
creased at least one quarter 40 over
their present value, or an increase of (
SIS, 900 per farm. With our total of g. /
so, 900 farms this gives the staggering /
sum of SO, 600, 900 .OOO-ten times the |
entire amount expenses OF government
Of this great nation.
Still another view: There are now
about 900, 900 automobiles in the United
States. Estimating that each one of these
makes an average of twenty-five (25 miles
4 day, we get a mileage Of over Z SOC, ,OOO.-
700 per annum. IF the operating expen- f
ies average fifteen cents (15c. per mile,
he total annual expenses exceed 81 ,00O,
100, 900. A goodly sum. Are not bad
Dads responsible for ten (10) per cent o..
his We think more, much more. This
means possible annual saving of not less
haE 500, 100000.
There are p ,O00, 600 horses, mules and !
raft animals, more than 4, 900, 600 bicv- {
les, and 100, 900 motor cycles in the
'nited States. q
SAVING OF $500, 900, 600.
These, with the automobiles. are val
ed at more than $50 ZOO, 600, 900. If d
-om good roads TO bad-only ten (1O) O
er cent. in depreciation per annum were y
lved, 1t would amount to the enormous a
I'm Of $500 ,O00, 900 every year. s
Does this indicate that we cannot afford n
} build good roads? If we were to put C
tax on only few articles Of personal f
-operty, which should not be done, max G
y It equal 10 this present, useless, ex- al
avagant and wasteful depreciation, we II
iould be able in a period Of less than IA
'enty years to give our great country a
mplete and unified network of excel Ia
1t road binding together North and =,
nth and East and West in a closer and >,
mer brotherhood. P'
Such facts and figures can be multiplied -.
definitely to show the conditions de- =
ndent IN whole or in a large measure g.
on the bad road conditions, such as 4;
developed farms, poor schools in rural %
tncts, high cost Of products, immigra- ~
n from farm to city and countless other -
'dern social and economic ills. They A.,
= self-evident and need no further ~ ~
,of. 70
WOULD ELIMINATE TAXES. do
n comparison with the foregoing fig be
IS the cost Of roads seems insignificant, tn
l when YOU consider that if highways,
lonal and state, are built under the Hi
lowing plan the cost will not only sol
n be repaid, but that the legitimate col
ONE will repay the cost of roads. and lof
IN a few years bring in an income to St
nation or state that will be greater of
n its tariff has ever been and that in wo
cry few years later the income will be to
icient to take of many, if not all. of sor
taxes of to-day and this income will is ]
constantly on the increase, so that in prc
ny statesit will equal the total amount VIII
axes within less than a century. This ger
should be most carefully studied.
more carefully it is studied the more
ain viii be its adoption. 9
he one important feature of this plan -