The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-04
GOOD ROADS HELP.
To Increase the Value OF Farms, Govern
ment Finds.


ment Finds.
To determine as far as possible the
exact dollars and cents effect on coun-
ty of the Improvement Of bad roads, spe-
eialists of the Office OF public roads and
rural engineering of the U. $. depart
ment of agriculture made economic sur
yeys in eight counties in each OF the
wears from 1910 to 1915, inclusive
This study of the increase in the val
ues OF farm lands in the eight counties
reveals the rather interesting fact that
following the improvement OF the nam
roads the increase in the selling price OF
tillable farm lands served by tie roads
has amounted TO from one TO three times
the total of the Improvements. The
increase in values in those instances
which were recorded ranged from %
per cent to 50 per cent in Spottsylyanla
county. Va; from 6S to 1914 in Dinwid-
die county, Va; 70 to so in Lee county
Va. 25 to 100 in Wise county, Va; nine
to ia in Franklin county, \. X; % to
100 in Dallas county, Ala; rs TO % IN
Lauderdale county, Miss; and from %
Ito 100 in Msntee county, Fla. The esti-
mates of increase were based for the
most part upon the territory within
distance of one mile on each side OF the
roads improved.
In Spottsylvania county careful rec
ord was made in 1910 OF 80 farms located
on the road selected for improvement
lOf the seven farms sold in 1912, the
prices actually paid show increases OF
from 81 to ll6 per cest over the 1911
valuation. The average value after the
roads were improved was S2s26 per acre
as compared with Sl7.3l previous to the
Improvement. In 1918, four trainers OF
farm land were on the basis OF S3Oll
per acre, whereas the properties were
listed in 1910 at only $3.50 per acre. 1t
apnears that l.45l acres sold in 1913 in
creased in value SIS, 500, or so per cent,
or from S2446 to S44.l0 per acre.
! In Dinwddie county, Va, the actual
price OF 43 farms sold or offered for
sale from 1909 to 1914 ranged in price
| from SS.Ss to S43.74 per acre before the
roads were built, and from S24.7O to
1880 per acre after the roads were i'm
proved
In Lee county, Va. study of eight
/ tracts along the roatis before and after
Improvement indicated that these proper
| ties increased about S23 per acre, or
about 70 per cent
In Wise County Va, study OF
eight representative farms located on
roads showed that they increased in val
Iue from an average of S4906 per acre
before improvement to S7944 after the
roads were improved. Thee were in
creases in valuation in Other sections OF
from SEQ to 500, or even 500 per acre.
In Franklin county, \. Y, the figures
seem to indicate that the change from
earth. sandy. and loan roads to bitumi
nous macadam was followed by increases
averaging $3.50 per acre, or about 5o.i
per cent.
In Dallas county, Ala, careful inves-
tiRation seemed to indicate that road
Improvement has added at least 50 70
leach acre OF land within half mile OF
improved roads Tracts sold at from
- to $40 per acre were sold again after
road Improvement at from $50 to $50 per
acre.
In Ianderdale county. Miss, the to-
ltal assessed valuation of real property
outside OF the city was S2,15I $40. This
increased in 1914 after road improvement
to So. lS3 500, or l5.4 per cent. Local
real estate men place the increase IN
LAND values on account OF improved
roads at from p to 80 per cent.
In Msnstee county. Fla, careful study
OF sales and real estate records indicated
that the improvement Of roads has added
from ) to 100 per cent, OF at least. 81
per acre. TO the selling price Of al lands
within one-half mile OF improved roads
This would give a total Of f5ll.eoo. q
more than twice the value OF the bonds
ISSUED.
-. AlL.-a..s