The Raymer enterprise., 1913-06-12
ROAD
BUILDING
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 pred.
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
saving OF three dollars day In
drivers pay alone thus has been effect
ed. Really good roads would save the
cotton states OF the south approx!
matcly $4,000 according to the de.
partment, which gives these figures TO
prove its contention:
"ln the cotton states Of the south the
total cost OF hauling the cotton crop
In 1911. including the seed. was s3i.-
3755.634. Any system OF road Improve
ment throughout this zone which
would reduce the annual hauling
charge five per cent. would effect a
saving OF sl,S6s.7Sl year. From these
figures 1t would appear that 1t would
be good business to incur an expense
for road Improvement. even II 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 ecc-
nomic advantages also arise In COM
manity where roads have been i'm
proved The increase In the value OF
farm lands Is an example Of the indl'
rect ecoromic advantages Of improved
road conditions. II should not be con.
sidcred. however. that. In presenting
the advantages OF improved roads the
direc, Increase In the cost OF hauling
and the increase In farm values are
entirely separate and independent. Tho
farm increases In value partly because
the cost OF hauling is decreased.
whatever methods are used TO ir.-
prove road, the improvement for
hauling purposes is due to three
carses-the betterment OF the road
surface. the reduction Of the Grade and
the shortening OF the length On ehch
an improved read the tine required to
haul a given quantity Of material q
given distance is reduced. The reduc.
ton may be largely due TO increased
speed OF hauling, 10 increased .oad. or
to both. It is important 10 recognize
that for transportation purposes re-
duct.cn OF time is equivalent to de-
crease OF the distance from the mar.
ket centers. II is easy to see, then.
why the increase Of farm values must
follow improved roads. for their eGec,
is to bring the farms, In sense. near
er the towns. The fact that en- 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. II also means
that many o! the limitations OF the
number and kind Of farm operations
are Immediately removed.
In order to fix ones ideas on the
reduction In the cost oi hauling due TO
the improvement Of roads. the trars-
portation Of goods TO the railroads and
OF farm produce 10 marked should be
considered The cost Of this work In
the United States n. present Is high.
and is due mainly to steep grades and
Welding road surfaces on unimprcved
roads VIXEN a grade exceeds q rise OF
six feet 10 the hundred feet In eor!.
,ontal measure. II becomes an increas.
ing hlndtance TO tralilc. On any grade,
In addition TO the surface conditions,
the force OF gravity must be overcome
The horse must also raise his own
weight and because OF the manner in
which his strength Is applied. II be-
comes less and less available as the
grade increases II must always be re-
membered that the worst grade on any
road tends to limit the load that Can
pass over the entire road"