The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-09-18
AMERICAN ROAD CONGRESS.
Importance OF Good Roads TO The
Farmer.

Farmer.
Regarding the public roads as an in
dispensable part Of the transportation sys-
tenn of the country, experimenting its
railroads and waterways, President Har
rison, of the Southern Railroad company,
takes an active interest in the good roads
movement. He is Vice President Of the
American Highway Association and will
be one Of the speakers at the Fourth
American Road Congress in Atlanta, the
week of November
Speaking Of the relation of the country
highway to the railroad, Mr.. Harrison
said: "Whatever may be the final desti-
nation Of the farm products, their first
movement must be over the country road
and if the farmer is to receive the largest
measure of benefit from good roads the
policy should be adopted of improving
those highways which radiate from. mar
ket towns and shipping stations and over
which the farmers must haul their pro-
ducts The profit which will be earned
by the farmer may depend largely upon
the condition of the road from his farm
to shipping station. Statistics compil-
ed by the U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture show that the cost of hauling farm
products to shipping points over bad
roads is disproportionately large part Of
the total expense of their transportation
to market This is not always fully real.
lied by the farmer. but if he will take
into account the time of himself and his
team, and the wear and tear on his We
hicle and harness made necessary by a
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 over
looked, is that he must haul his products
to market when the roads are not in
their best condition. with little regard as
to whether prices are favorable or wheth-
er hauling at that time interiors with
work on the farm. With good roads he
can not only haul heavier loads in short
er time but, except as to perishable COM
modities, be can market his products
when prices are most favorable and can
do his hauling when it is most con Sen-
lent and even when the ground is too
wet to work in the fields.
stsTs9.. ..,o..sfo11 - r.
proved highway in reducing the cost OF
drayage, facilitating social intercourse,
promoting school and church attendance,
expediting rural mail delivery, increas-
ing the value of farm lands, and promot-
ing agricultural development back from
the railroads are so great that they need
but to be enumerated to present con.
vincing argument in favor of road i'm
provement.
"Since several years ago when the
Southern railway company, in conjunc.
ton with the U. S. Agricultural Depart.
ment and State and local authorities,
operated over its lines good roads train,
carrying machinery and lecturers. and
building at central points object-lesson
roads, there has Been very substantial
progress in the good roads movement
throughout the South. This was accel.
Grated in 1911 by the operation of anoth.
err good roads train in cooperation with
the U. S. Department of Agriculture ani
the American Highway Association. The
interest of the Southern people in good
roads has been thoroughly aroused anG
in many localities the country highway,
have been highly improved and ar,
being adequately maintained.
1T is fortunate for the South that tn,
American Road Congress of 1914 is to b.
held in Atlanta. This will unquestion
ably be one of the most important gath
erings ever held in the Southern States
1t will bring together the official heads o
the State Highway Departments, tn,
foremost experts in road construction ant
maintenance, and other leaders in th,
good roads movement in each State fo
an exchange of ideas as to the best meth
DDS of financing road construction ant
building ard maintaining the best type
of country highways. It's exhibits of road
machinery and model roads will be high
ly educational and it can not but serve I,
increase interest in the good roads move
ment throughout the South"
VxTnnnU A VxyNT