The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-09-18

roads tn policy should be adopted
of improving those highways which
radiate from market towns anti ship
ping stations and over which the
farmers must haul their products.
The profit which will be earned by
the farmer may depend largely upon
the condition of the road from his
farm to shipping station. Stats
tics compiled by the Y. s. Depart
ment of Agriculture show that the
cost of hauling farm products to
shipping points over bad roads is a
disproportionately large part of the
total expense of their transportation
to market. This is not always fully
realized by the farmer, but IL he will
take into account the time of him
self and his team, and the wear and
tear on his vehicle and harness made
necessary by q larger number of
trips with smaller loads, he will
find that the cost mounts up very
fast and correspondingly reduces his
net profits. Another item of the cost
of bad roads to the farmer, which
Is often overlooked, is that he must
haul his products to markets when
the roads are not in their best con-
diton with little regard as to wheth-
er prices are favorable or whether
hauling at that time interiors with
work on the afrm. With good roads
he can not only haul heavier loads
in shorter time but except as to
perishable commodities, he can mar
ket his products when prices are
most adorable and can do his haul
ing when II Is most convenient and
even when the ground is too wet for
work in the fields.
1.-THE manifold advantages of an
improved highway in reducing the
cost of drayage, facilitating social in
tercourse, promoting school and
church attendance, expeditating ru-
raj mail delivery, increasing the
value of farm lands. and promoting
agricultural development back from
the railroads are so great that they
need but to be enumerated ito pre-
sent a convincing argument in afvor
of road improvement.
"Since several years ago when the
Southern Railway Company, in con-
junction with the U. s. Agricultural
Department and State and local au-
thorities, operated over it's lines a
good roads train, carrying machin-
cry and lecturers, and building at
central points object-lesson roads,
Their has been very substantial pro-
gress in the good roads movement
throughout the South. This was &C
CELEBRATED in 1911 by the operation
of another good roads train in Coop
Grafton with the U. s. Department of
Agriculture and the American High
way Association. The interest of the
Southern people in good roads has
been thoroughly aroused and in many
localities the country highways have
been highly improved and are being
adequately maintained.
81 think it is fortunate for the
South that the American Road Con-
gress of 1914 is to be held in At
lanta. This will PROFESSIONALLY be
one Of the most important gatherings
ever held in the Southern States.
1t will bring together the official
heads of the State Highway Depart
ments. the foremost experts in road
construction and maintenance, and
other leaders in the good roads move
ment in each State for an exchange
of ideas as to the best methods of
finacing road construction and build
ing and maintaining the best types
of country highways. Its exhibits of
road machinery and of model roads
will be highly educational and it can
not but serve to increase interest
in the good roads movement through
out the South"