The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-12-10
GOOD ROADS VITAL

GOOO HOAOS VIAL
THE Economic Value of Improved
Roads to Minnesota" was the subject
handled by Earl B. Smith, associate
mechanical engineer, United States Of
fee of public roads at Washington, be.
fore the annual convention of the
Northern Minnesota Development AS
ISOLATION, at Brainard last week.
THE business of farming and the
development of agricultural resources
are essentially dependent upon the
condition of public roads" he said.
Whatever may be used on the farm
and is not produced there, must be
hauled to the farm, and most farm
crops must be hauled to the railroad
stations or local markets.
"The profit of all farm operation is
represented by the difference between
the cost of production, plus the cost OF
transportation and the selling price.
If at any time the cost of transporta-
ton shall wipe out this difference or
margin of profit, production will OF
necessity cas- 1t, therefore. be-
hooves every farming community to
strive to keep its transportation at the
lowest possible cost for in so doing
it's farm profits will be increased and
it's wealth and prosperity augmented.
I'm Minnesota there are, according
to the 1910 census, 1858, 1913 acres of
improved farm lands. If from each Of
these acres one-half ton of produce is
hauled away and marketed, the total
haulage would amount to 9,S21, 1856
tons. moved an average distance of
might be moved to the farm. If, then,
by improving your roads you could
effect a saving of S cents a ton mile
in your transportation bill, your an
nual saving would be 1851, 1879.
1.-THE cost of hauling is figured at
so much a ton mile; on earth roads, it
may be taken at 20 cents, and on good
macadam roads at 10 cents; to deter
mine then whether the road will pay
for its improvement, we must, from a
strictly economic standpoint, answer
the question, Will a decrease in the
cost of hauling pay maintenance and
interest on the investment in the i'm
proved road? This question cannot be
answered until the tonnage a mile Of
road Ia known. The astonishing fact
is that where rigid inquiries have been
made, both as to the service Of a road
and the cost Of its improvement and
maintenance, the advantage Of such
improvement has appeared undeni-
able.
"In addition to the saving effected
by improved roads on the cost Of
transportation, they will also cause An
increase in the value OF farm lands. In
nearly every case where good roads
are constructed through a community,
the value of farm lands has advanced.
1.-The economic value Of good roads
must not be measured in dollars alone,
but should include the effect upon the
social, moral and educational condi-
lions of the community.
1.-The effect of improved roads upon
school conditions is also vital. Mime
sofa ranks among the first states Of
the union in the amount of money ex-
pended on its school system. The ave
age attendance at the schools Is good,
being 1873 per cent, but this average
attendance is not what 1t should be II
the roads of the state rel SO i'm.
proved that the children could get to
school with greater ease and facility
during bad weather; and II in addition
because of better roads, the plan could
be adopted of sending out vans for
conveying them to and from the
schools each day.
I'VE must stop changing road ofn-
Gals at each election. We must pay
more and demand more from road
officers. There are In the United
States between 10000 and zoo, 900
petty road officers. These men must
administer an average expenditure Of
about $1,000 each. including their own
salary. Sucn administration does not
secure the maximum efficiency In road
building and maintenance. There
should be . reduction In the number Of
ofhcials. and . concentration Of re-
sponsibility for road work and ex-
penditures."