The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-12-23
GOOD Highways
AND PROSPERITY
Bette! Roads Mean Better
Times For RurdlistS.
SAVING IN TRANSPORTATION

The Old Order Has Changed From tho
Slow Going oxcart, Toilins Over the
Worst Kind Of Roads, to the Speedy
Automobile and Motor Truok-Farm-
lno Communities Benefited.
Within the memory Of many Of US
the only way of travelling in various
sections Of the country was by means
of OK teams over the worst kind Of
roads. says Fl. Colin Campbell in
Hoard's Dairyman. The country pro-
Queer delivered his crops ut some river
point where water transportation con-
veyed them to the nearest market. Cat
tie were driven for long distances over
all kinds of roads. But the stock grow
err and farmer came to realize that this
method Of reaching the consumer was
too costly and that their time and eff
fort are valuable and should be econ
omizcd as much az any other element
Of cost. The low going OK team has
given way to the speedy automobile
and motor truck. The railroad has in
many cases relieved the farmer Of his
long and dangerous trips to shipping
points. yet In many places the long. I'M
Improved muddy road prevails.
Statistics show that GO per cent of
the automobiles manufactured recently
have found their way to the farm:
hence the rural dweller has not only
been given the opportunity. but has de-
vcioped 4 greater desire, to travel than
ever before. Moreover. lie has seen
good roads. and evidence is real to him
that community so favored is one to
| initiate
There is a direct relationship be-
| tween good roads and the general pros
| petty Of any community. Proof of
this Is obtainable wherever modern
roads have been constructed. On the
National pike. that old cross country
highway which was begun by the gov
eminent In 1905 and that Is now be-
ing rehabilitated, there stand monu-
ments that point to local develop
ment that followed the construction
of this now historic road. In localities
where highways have been improved.
where first class roads have been built
and we'll maintained. where highway
travel has been made comfortable and
plcasurable there Is evidence of con
slant increase in population. land val
ues and local improvements.
One of the most recent proofs of this
statement comes from Ohio. where
highway enthusiasts point to the fact
that those counties where roads have
not been improved have lost popula
ton. while. on the other hand, the coun
ties that have modernized their high
ways have increased their population
and land values have risen. Another
evidence of the increased prosperity
that follows good roads has been fur
nished by some investigations conduct
ed by the United States department oil
agriculture Of road work in Virginia
Conditions In Spottsylvania county
were studied with particular care. The
results were surprising. In 1909 the
county voted 100000 to improve forty
miles Of road. Two years after com
pleting this work the railroad shipped
from Fredericksburg. the county seat
during period Of twelve months Il,
00O tons of the products of the sol
hauled over the improved highways It
that town. Before improvement hat
become fact the total was only 49,00t
tons annually. In other words. tn.
products of the soil had Increased NOR,
than As per cent