The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-07
GOOD ROADS WILL
HELP THE SCHOOLS
ATTENDANCE INCREASED WHERE
GOOD ROADS HAVE BEEN
BUILT AND KEPT UP
SOCIAL CONDITIONS ARE ALSO IMPROVED
Farm Business Also Enlarged in Many
Ways as Well as Marketing
Costs Reduced

A Is per cent increase in the pro-
portion of the available children at
tending schools took place following
the construction of good roads in 8
counties studied by the Office of Pub
lie Roads and Rural Engineering OF
the department it is shown in a recent
publication of the office, Department
Bulletin No. 1893. The improvement
in roads was followed also in several
of the counties, the report shows, by
consolidation of a number of the little
one-room schools into graded schools,
which give the pupils better educa-
tional advantages; by a development
of various industries; and by social
improvements due to easier inter
course. These improvements are re-
lated closely to increases in land
values and decreases in hauling costs.
effects also traced to the construction
of improved roads. The studies were
lldut III cDOIHg NdIlld, - W ubi' 49,
and Wise Counties, Va; Franklin
county, n. Y; Dallas county, Ala;
Lauderdale county, Miss, and
Manatee county, Fla.
In Spotsylvania county, Va, the
average daily schooI attendance in
creased from 81 per cent of the enroll
ment before the roads were improved
to II per cent after. Several small
schools were consolidated. Between
1909, the year preceding the building
of good roads, and 1913, the year fol
lowing their completion, the shipment
of forest products, the principal pro
ducts of the county, increased more
than rs per cent. The increase dur
ing this period in the poultry business
in the county was II per cent, and in
dairying 10 per cent.
In Dinwiddle county, Va, the aver
age daily attendance for children for
IS schools on the improved roads "a
GA per cent of the enrolment in
1928, while the average attendance
for all other schools in the county was
Sc per cent. Several school consolida-
lions have been effected, larger school
buildings have been constructed, and
pupils have been transported to school
1t the expense of the educational sys-
tenn since the road improvements were
made. Truck gardening and dairyins
which were profitable only within 3
miles of the principal market town of
the county before the road improve
ment, are 0 carried on proftably
within a Emile 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 proitably hauled over the unim-
proved roads. The improved highway
system has attracted buyers of farm
pl ouuSlS III la W
and furnish a new cash market for the
farmers. There has been a 25 per
CEN increase in .buggies sold by a
county vehicle factory.
In Wise county, Va, social condi-
tons have been bettered since the
good roads were constructed, many
farmers along the improved highways
having build new homes or improved
old ones, adding sanitary conven-
fences. School attendance has increas-
ed materially, but since compulsory at
tendance regulations went into effect
about the time the improved roads
were completed, the influence of the
two factors could not be determined
separately. Several school ~consoli-
dations have been made.
Automobile registrations in Frank
lin county, N. Y, increased from 81
before the road improvement in 1912
to $50 after road improvement in 1914,
and two automobile bus lines connect
ing distant towns in the county were
established as soon as the improved
roads were opened.
There has been a notable stimula-
ton dairying and general diversified
ton on the farms of Dallas county,
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 ~ per cent of the en-