Lower coast gazette., 1914-09-19
Retirement of Public Roads.

Retirement of Public Roads. -
LOUISIANA will be represented at the Fourth
Road Congress which will be held in
atlanta, Georgia, during the week OF Novem-
YER 9th. by Mr.. W. E. Atkinson, State Highway
engineer. who will present a paper on DRAM
100 Structures" A conference Of the official
roads Of the various State Highway Depart
ments will be held to consider questions OF mu-
interest to the Highway Departments. 1t
l. expected that not more than one or twostates
fail to be represented by the actual oii'c'al
heads Of their Highway Departments. Inese
technically trained specialists will deal with al
Of the problems Of construction, maintenance,
and management Of public roads.
Whatever may be the final destination OF the
farm products, their first movement must De
over the country road and if the farmer Is 10
receive the largest measure OF benefit from gooo
roads the policy should be adopted OF improving
those highways which radiate from market
towns and shipping stations and over which the
farmers must haul their products. The proht
which will be earned by the farmer may depend
largely upon the condition Of the road from MS
farm to a shipping station. Statistics compiled
BY the u. S. Department OF Agriculture snow
that the cost of hauling farm products 70 snip
MING points over bad roads is a dlsproporton-
ate|v large part CT the total expense OF their
transportation to market. This y not Always
fully realized by the farmer, but II ne Will take
into account the time Of himself and his team,
and the wear and tear on his vehicle and harness
made necessary by a larger number OF trips
With smaller loads, he will find that the cost
mounts up very fast and correspondlngiy re-
duces 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 70
markets when the roads are not in their best
condition with little regard as to whether prices
arn favorable or whether hauling at that time
,nterferes with work on the farm. With good
roads he can not only haul heavier loads IN
shorter time but, except as to perishab!e COM
modities, he can market his products when
nr;ces are most favorable and can 90 his hauling
when it is most convenient ard even when the
ground is too wet for work in the fields.
The advantages Of an improved highway m
reducing the cost Of drayage. facilitating soclal
intercourse, promoting school and church at
tendance, expediting rural mail delivery, IN
creasing the value Of farm lands. and promoune
agricultural development back from the rall
roads are so great that they need but 70 o
enumerated to present a convincing argumen'
in favor road improvement.
Since several years ago when the Southern
Railway Company, in conjunction with the y
S. Agricultural Department and State ana 10
cal authorities, operated over its lines q goo'
roads train, carrying machinery and lecturers
and building at central points object-lessol
roads. there has been very substantial progress
in TIE good roads movement throughout th
South. This was accelerated in 1911 BY the ol
Grafton Of another good roads train in co-opers
ton with the u. S. Department Of Agr1cultul
and the American Highway Association. ~
interests Of the Southern people in good road
has been thoroughly aroused and IN many
J~calities the country highways have been high
;mnroyed and are being adequately maintains
..Women are more vitality concerned in t
rood roads movement than are men. declar
/ Mrs. Robert Baker, Chairman Of the Woman
Department Of the American Highway Ascot
ton 1t Washington. THE isolation and lon
!, illness Of farm life, cut OFF for months each We
from communication with the outside world, |
4 cause Of impossible roads. falls most heav
e upon the women Of the household. The YOU
& escape it BY moving to the cities but the Wis
n and mothers must endure i. Schools Z
h churches can only develop their field of uaef