The log cabin Democrat., 1916-11-23
HOW GOOD ROADS
 HELP THE FARMER
STUDY BY GOVERNMENT
Of Benefits from Improved Highways in Eight Typical Counties of
 the Nation.

In view of the rapidly growing sen- tlment for permanent highways in Faulkner county and the tentative or ganlZatlon of two improvement dis tricts in the county for this purpose, the following bulletin just issued by the United States government will be read with much interest locally. The bulletin IS a synopsis of studies of the effect of good roads in eight 1 typical counties of the United States.
 It is reprinted below:
 A 15 per cent increase in the pro- | portion of the available children at tending schools took place following the construction of good roads in i eight counties studied by the office of public roads and rural engineering of i the department it is shown in a re- cent publication of the office, depart ment bulletin No. 393 The improve ment in roads was followed also in several of the counties, the report shows, by consolidation of number of the little one-room schools into graded schools, which give the pupils better educational advantages; by a development of various industries: and by social Improvements due to easier intercourse. These improve ments are related closely to increases Tn land value and decreases in hauling costs, effects also traced to the con structlon of improved roads. The studies were made in Spotsylvania, DinWiddie, Lee and Wise counties, Va; Franklin county, N. r.; Dallas county, Ala; Lauderdale county, Miss, and Manatee county, Fla.
 In Spotsylvania county, Va., the average daily school attendance in- creased from 57 per cent of the en- rollment before the roads were i'm proved to v per cent after. Several small schools were consolidated. Be- tween 1909, the year preceding the building of good roads, and 1913, the year following their completion, the shipment of forest products, the prin- clpal products of the county, increased more than 78 per cent. The increase during this period in the poultry busi- ness Tn the county was 77 per cent, and in dairying 11O per cent.
 In .Dinwiddie county, Va, the aver age daily attendance for children for Is schools on the improved roads was 634 per cent of the enrolment in l912-l3, while the average attend ance for all other schools in the coun- ty was 56 per cent. Several school consultations have been effected, larger school buildings have been con- structed, and pupils have been trans ported to school at the expense of the educational system since the road inn provements were made. Truck gard ening and dairying, which were profit able only within 8 miles of the prin- cipal market town of the county be- fore the road improvement, are now carried on proftably within 7-mile radius.
 In Lee county, Va, a considerable industry has been built up following the road improvements in the ship ment of tan bark, extract wood, and pulp wood, products which could not be protitably hauled over the unim- proved roads. The improved highway system has attracted buyers of farm products who travel from farm to farm and furnish a new cash market for the farmers. There has been 25 per cent increase in buggies sold by a county vehicle factory.
 In Wise county, Va, social cond- tions have been bettered since the good roads were constructed, many farmers along the improved highways having built new homes or improved old ones, adding sanitary convent ences. School attendance has increas- ed materially, but since compulsory attendance regulations went into eff feet about the time the improved roads were completed, the influence of the two factors could not be deter mined separately. Several school con solicitations have been made.
 Automobile registrations in Frank lin county, N. Y., increased from 371 before the road improvement in 1912 to 853 after road improvement in 1914, and two automobile bus lines connecting distant towns in the coun- ty were established as soon as the improved roads were opened.
 There has been a notable stimula tion of dairying and general diversi- fcaton on the farms of Dallas coun- ty, Ala, since the improvement of the roads of that county.
 In the section of Lauderdale county, Miss, where most of the roads have been improved, the school attendance increased from 72 per cent of the en- rollment in 1912, just after the road work started, to 8l per cent in 1913 after the completion of the work IF lAA