The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-12-22
GOOD ROADS CUT
COST OF HAULING
Actual Saving in Certain Selected
Counties Shown by Uncle
Sans Experts.
STUDIES COVER SIX YEARS
Investigations Prove That Reduced
Costs More Than Paid Interest
on Bonds and the Expense
of Maintenance.


Improvement of roads In eight Sc
lected counties In different sections of
the United States resulted In the ag-
gregate, in n total gross annual saving
In hauling costs of $627 400, according
to recent economic studies made by
the office of public roads and rural
engineering of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture. The cost OF
haulage for the group of counties IL
| lower since the roads were Improved,
! 1t was found even when charges are
made in the comparative computations
! for interest ON bonds and annual main
tenance costs. The results Of the
studies by Uncle Sans experts which
extended from 1909 to 1915, and which
included other effects Of improved high
ways than those on traffic, are shown
In Department of Agriculture Bulletin
1893, recently published.
The eight counties in which the
| studies We're made are SpOtsylvania,
Dinwiddie, Lee and Wise counties, Vir-
glnia; Franklin county, New York;
Dallas county, Alabama; Lauderdale
county, Mississippi, and Manatee coun-
ty, Florida. These counties were Sc
lected because they had just issued
bonds for road improvement when it
was decided to make the studies, and
it would therefore be possible to cover
the road improvements from outset to
completion.
The average gross annual saving in
hauling costs due TO the road improve
ments in these eight counties was
found to be 17.9 cents per ton-mile,
while the net saving was found to be
11.6 cents. The Investigators point out
in the bulletin that an actual cash
saving to the amount indicated is not
effected, but that this is the indicated
saving when the time of workers and.
use of draft animals and equipment
are given cash values at the rates pre-.
vailing in the several communities.
Effects by Counties.
In Spotsyvania county, Virginia,
bond issue of S173,0O0 was provided
and 76 miles of road were improved.
The average loads hauled in a two
horse wagon increased materially after
the roads were improved, and ton-mile
costs dropped from 80 cents to 1871
cents. This meant a gross tOn-mile
saving of 1853 cents, or net tOn-mile
saving, when charges were made for
interest on bonds and maintenance Of
roads, of 149 cents. The gross total
annual saving in the county is, there
fore, approximately S150,000; and when
deductions are made for interest and
costs, the annual indicat.
ed net saving is S130670.
In Dinwiddie county, Virginia, a
bond issue of $3050O0 was provided,
and the state contributed, in addition
nearly $4,000 worth of convict labor.
The improved road mileage at the COM
pletion of the study was 101 miles.
Average loads for a two-horse wagon
increased from about 1000 pounds to-
about 1920 pounds, and ton-mie costs
decreased from 30 cents to 10 cents.
The net ton-mile saving is 1877 cents
and the indicated gross saving for the
county is $12497O.
In Lee county, Virginia, a fund of
$364,000 was provided by bonds, and
the state contributed labor worth more
than S21 1000. Ninety-nine miles of
road were improved. Average loads
from 1900 to 1000 pounds,
and ton-mile costs were reduced from
40 cents to 20 cents, with a net ton
mile saving of 1915 cents. The gross
annual saving for the county was
S5940O.
In Franklin county, New York, bonds.
to the amount of 100000 were issued,
and 1876 miles Of road were improved.
Average loads increased from about
? 400 pounds to 5,557 pounds. Ton
nile costs dropped from 30.3 cents
to 9.6 cents, and the net ton-mile.
saving was III cents. The gross an
lual saving in the county for hauling
charges has been approximately $780,
700 since the roads were improved.
County Saves 100000.
In Dallas county, Alabama, S366,977
secured from the bond issue was used
- lluDIONC 4OI ullGS VI TOdu, aver
lge loads increased from 1900 pounds
o $500 pounds, and ton-mile hauling
,osts fell from 30 to 10 cents. The
let ton-mile saving was 100 cents.
t is estimated that the county saves
100000 gross in hauling costs
Is a result of the road Improvement.
In Lauderdale county, Mississippi,
100000 worth of bonds was issued,
nd SO miles of road improved. Av-
rage loads increased from 1900 to
800 pounds, and hauling costs
Iropped from 81 to 20 cents per ton
nile.
In Wise county, Virginia, $1,O31,-
1854 was provided for road work by
ond issues, state contributions and in
ther ways. From this fund SO miles
f road have been surfaced and So
niles graded. Average loads have in
from 1900 to $500 pounds
nd ton-mile hauling costs have been
educed from 81 to 23 cents. The gross
aving to the county, when hauling
osts alone are considered, is approxi-
lately $6S,000 a year.
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