Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1914-08-25
THE VALUE TO FARMERS N
OF GOOD ROADS

II. w. kirkpatrick. president OF the
Texas Industrial Congress. with life
time experience in farming, made the
following sensible explanation OF the
good roads proposition. as It concerns
the farmer. In an address before the
midsummer session OF the Texas Good
Roads Association at Galveston last
week:
"The value OF improved roads de.
ponds upon strict compliance with the
law OF economy. Dense population or
heavy traffic only will justify expen-
siye roads. The most valuable road
for average travel is that which gives
efficient permanent service at loves;
possible cost. sand-clay roads, when
properly constructed and saturated
with petroleum or petroleum by.pro.
ducts. often give better service and
are more valuable to the farmer than
are expensive systems OF road maxi
ing.
"The benefits OF improved roads are
numerous and extensive. The element
OF time enters into the cause OF all
failure and disappointment. Improved
roads give us choice Of time and en-.
able us to save time which otherwise
would be lost. With good roads we
can choose most advantageous times
for marketing or other travel We
can choose weather unsuited for farm
work. wet or dry, light or dark. We
shorten time by greater speed; fewer
teams. wagons and harness are need.
ed; and this lessons expense OF main
tanning. Smaller capital Is used-in
terest, insurance and other expenses
are reduced. The value received by
farmers from good roads is also re-
Elected in the increased value given
to his farm. This increase In value
often amounts to more than the total
cost OF the road
Diminishing consideration Of all
these economic values to farmers,
which arise from improved roads,
there is another class OF benefits and
advantages accruing TO farmers and
to all other classes OF population
which should appeal to us more
strongly than the economic class OF
benefits: the educational. profession
al, ethical and social interests are
very materially influenced by the con.
dition OF the common roads. The ef'
ficiency OF the rural schools is de-
pendent upon good roads. With good
roads several inferior schools are con-
oentrated into one superior school at
reduced expense. Churches, fraterni'
ties and other organizations are af'
fected similarly. Indeed nearly all
schools could. by aid OF large motor
vans, be concentrated in village or
town where classification and in.
creased efficiency could be had at re
duced cost. Frequent urgent profes.
sional service OF physician. surgeon
officer OF minister. the value Of which
are often beyond measure, depends
largely upon conditions OF roads.
The farmer situated FIVE or ter
miles from city or town. who has the
advantage Of improved roads, Of mo
tor vehicles, together with telephone
and free rural delivery. can enjoy
nearly all the advantages of city life
and in addition many special priv
leges and Injuries denied to those liv
ing in the city. In the presence Of
these conditions. country life will be
so attractive and desirable that II viii
draw to itself the best quality OF citi
zens from the city and from immigra
ton also. And It is this quality o
citizens that gives true value L
property. and brings happiness. con
tentment and prosperity to com
munity.
1T is not too much TO say: A gen
eral system Of improved roads. ia
gether with modern methods Of com
munication. transportation and edu
cation-then the world would live Il
peace and wars would be no more"