Gunnison news-champion., 1916-11-24
EFFECT Of c0oD R0lDs
IS WONDERFUL STORY
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To determine - far - possible the
exact dollars and cents effect On . eoun-
ty Of the improvement Of bed roads.
specialists Of The Once Of Public Roads
and Rural Engineering Of the depart
ment made economic surveys in eight
counties 10 each Of the ysars 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 main
market rosds the increase in the selling
price Of tllsble farm lands served by
the roads has amounted to from one to
three times the total cost Of the i'm
provements. The increase in values in
those Instances which were recorded
ranged from 6S per cent to so per cent
in Spotsylvania. Va; from 6s to 19l in
Dinwiddie county, Va; 70 to 80 in Lee
county. Va; 25 to 100 in Wise county.
Va: 9 to ia in Franklin county, N. Y;
80 to 100 in Dallas county, Ala; 25 to
so in Lauderdale, county. Miss; and
from so to 100 in Manatee county, Fla.
The estimates Of increase were based
for the most part upon the territory
within distance Of one mile on each
side Of the roads improved.
In Spotsylvania county . careful rec
ord was made in 1910 Of IS farms locat-
ed on the road selected for improve
ment. On the farms sold in 1912 the
prices actually paid show increases Of
from 81 to 116 per cent over the 1910
valuation. The average value after the
roads were improved was $2s.26 per acre
as compared with $l7.sl previous to the
improvement. In 1918 four transfers
Of farm land were on the basis Of $50. II
per acre, whereas the properties were
listed in 1910 at only $3.50 per acre.
It appears that the l,45l acres sold In
1914 increased in value so, 500, or 80
per cent, or from e24.46 to $44.lO per
acre.
In Dinwiddie county, Va, the actual
price Of 48 farms sold or offered for sale
from 1903 to 1914 ranged in price from
g. 3S to $4S.7l per acre before the roads
were built, and from $2l.70 to $3.50
per acre after the roads were improved.
In Lee county. Va, study Of eight
tracts along the roads before and after
Improvement indicated that these pro-
perties increased about $23 per acre. OF
shout 20 per cent.
In Wise county. Va, study Of eight
representative farms located on roads
showed that they increased in value
from an average Of $49.O6 per acre be.
fore improvement to $79. ~ after the
roads were improved. There were in
creases in valuation in other sections Of
from $50 to $50 or even 500 per acre.
In Franklin county, N Y. the figure,
seem to indicate that the change from
earth, sandy. and loan roads to bitumin
GUS macadsm was followed by incressel
averaging $3.50 per acre. or about S0.'
per cent.
| In Dallas county, Ala, careful inves
| tigation seemed to indicate that roa,
improvement has added at least @5 I,
each acre Of land within half mile o
improved roads. Tracts sold ct from
g to SO per acre were sold again aftel
road Improvement at from $50 to Is pei
acre.
In Lauderdale county, Miss. the tota
Assessed valuation Of real property out
side Of the city was 81, ,757. SAG. Thi
increased in 1914 after road improve
ment to 48, 1s3. 800. or Is per cent. Lo
cal real estate men place the tncreas
in land values on account Of improves
roads at from Is TO 50 per cent
| In Manatee county. Fla, careful stud.
Of sales and real estate records indicat
cd that the Improvement Of roads ha
added from Is to 100 per cent. or at leas
SIS per acre, to the selling price Of Al
lands within one-half mile Of improve
roads. This would give total Of $6ll,
600, or more than twice the value Of ID
bonds issued.
Three destructive fires visited Steam
boat Springs last week. The hug
Onvv hofnl 0,as aufsr~lsp dnaAvnvnd ~