The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1916-10-30

importance OF Wnlch must be self
evident. The fact also makes haul
ing on improved roads largely indie
pendent of the season of the year or
weather conditions
Perhaps concrete example will
more clearly emphasize this point. A
farmer in Sullivan County, Tenn.
had to haul barb wire a distance of
% miles, with two horse team and
maximum load of 500 pounds it
required three days to make the
round trip. To haul ton therefore
took IL days. At $500 per day for
man and team the cost was $50.
This road was later improved so that
the same team could easily haul a
ton load and make the round trip
in z days at cost of but $500
Numerous instances of this charac-
ter might be cited. Our own observa-
ton has no doubt shown US the great
such crops as truck, grain, fruit,
stock, etc. In other words form
crops that may be kept on the farm
indefinitely, to crops that must be
moved away from the farm. For ex-
ample, farmer several miles away
from a market for strawberries,
radishes, peas, peaches, etc., cannot
if his roads are in bad shape compete
with the other farmers raising the
same kind of produce in another
direction and on good roads. The
profits of these farmers are meas
ured by the difference between the
production and transportation cost
and the selling price. You cannot
hesitate in deciding which farmer
has the advantage.
We know that market prices for ev-
en- staple crops vary considerably dur
ing the year. The farmer who lives
on bad road must move his crop
while his road is passable whether
prices are good or not whereas the
farmer living on a good road does
not need to move his crop unless the
prices are favorable.
It is not unreasonable to say then
that good roads mean diversification
will be encouraged, the area of pro-
fitable production increased, the op-
portunity for favorable marketing
improved and more uniform dis
distance between the loads that are
hauled over bad roads and improved
roads. Take in your own vicinity for
example and call to mind the size of
load of cotton you have seen come
in from these sections where the
roads have been improved. Then
man from the bad road section rare
ly hauls more than one bale at a
time where the farmer on The good
road will haul two and more likely 8
and 4 bales at a time. The man liv-
ing on the improved road has much
the advantage of his nciohhor liv-
ing or poor road.
Again, the business of farming
is of necessity dependent Oh the con-
dition of the country roads. What
ever is raised on the farm rlust be
transported to market and what is
not raised on the farm must be haul
ed to the farm. It may trul; be said
that one Of the reasons why dive.si-
fled farming is limited in its extent
is on account Of poor roads. The es-
sential to successful diversified farm
ing is quick, easy access to market.
Diversified farming means changing
from a staple crop such as cotton to
tribution of farm products secured,
and, as a consequence, speculation
in staple products will be reduced.
Another important benefit to be
derived from good roads and one
that will draw at once attention of
every good farmer is the increase in
value of the farm lands adjoining
improved roads 1t is generally con-
ceded that the building of good
roads increases the value of adjoin-
ing land anywhere from $500 to
$4.O0 per acre and numerous in
stances might be cited where the
value has increased all the way
from $500 to $4,000 an acre on
account Of improvement Of the roads
OF course we realize that an i'm
proved road does not in any way in
crease the fertility or producing
power Of the soil, yet it is equally
true that an improved road does not
increase the sight value which ac-
crues to the farm by virtue Of its
position with respect to markets,
schools and town. Where farms in
crease in value from strictly eco
nomical standpoint it is due more to
the decrease in hauling costs than
any thing else. The farm becomes
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