The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-26

money in the pockets of the farmers by
investing in the Improvement of public
roads is shown by a statement Just issued
by the office of public roads of the de-
partment of agriculture Definite cases
are cited in support of the argument that
where bad roads prevail farmers are
forced to move their crops not when the
market price is favorable, but when the
roads are favorable.
Two farmers living in separate coun-
ties but an equal distance from the cot
ton market, learned by the settlement tel
ephone that cotton had advanced in price
81 per bale. The farmer living on bad
road responded by hauling one bale of
cotton, which was all he could get over the
unimproved road, while the other farmer
was able to haul four bales owing to Ia
vorable road conditions. The rise in price
gained profit of 81 to one man and 81 to
his neighbor.
Change in Prices
TT is shown in the statement that 1t is
common for the farmer to find that he
cannot haul his produce to market when
prices are highest because the roads are
impossible. When the roads become pass
able the time for market has largely
passed and produce is compelled to move
in masses, which frequently gluts the
market and breaks the prices.
Excessive fluctuations in market prices
are seldom due to over production. They
frequently take place in regions where the
local production does not equal the an
nual consumption. There are counties
rich in agricultural possibilities, burdened
with bad roads, where the annual income
shipments of food stuffs exceed the out
going shipments in the ratio of four to
one. Many such counties with improved
roads could not only become self support
ing, but could ship products to other mar
kets.
"A farmer in Sullivan county, Tenn. a
few miles from Bistrol, had 100 bushels of
Irish optatoes which he intended to mar
ket during the winter of 1907-S. owing to
bad roads, he was unable to haul the DO
tatoes at all, and they rotted in the cellar
Nevertheless, the price of potatoes at Bris-
tol went as high as s1.40 per bushel in the
meantime. A Bristol merchant stated that
during the winter as many as 10 car loads
of farm produce, including wheat. pota-
toes and other supplies were daily shipped
in to feed not only Bristol but the adja-
cent territory"
Cheaper in Long Run
This of course, is intended as prac-
llcdl liluSlIdllOH Ol the SOOu mat must
surely come to the farmers from the
building of good roads. 1t is not only a
great pleasure to live In a community
where there are good roads, but it is also
cheaper to do so. One great trouble is
that the average farmer has been taught
to believe that good roads are more or
less of a luxury, and7 he does not feel as
though he could afford luxuries. He be-
lieves that they are more conducive to the
pleasure of the city man who owns a car
than they are for his benefit, and he is
willing that the city man pay for the
roads, and is unwilling to saddle debt
upon his own children in the way of bonds
for such a purpose. This is actually the
belief of many worthy American citizens
who live in the country, and when they
vote they prove that this is their
opinion
The good road movement however, is
gaining ground and if the national gov
ernment finally decides to take a hand in
it. great momentum will be given the
proposition and il some plan can be
worked out along the line suggested by
Senator Bourne by which the state may
build its own roads through and by the
credit of the national government, nothing
would be more conducive to the general
of the country.