West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-11-16


10 determine as far as possible the
exact dollars and cents effect ON a
county OF the Improvement OF bad
roads. specialists OF the Office OF pub
lie roads and rural engineering of the
department made economic surveys I'm
eight counties I'm each OF the years
from 1910 TO 1915. inclusive.
This study of the increase i'm the val
ues Of farm lands I'm the eight conn
ties reveals the rather interesting fact
That following the improvement OF the
main market roads the increase in the
selling price of tillable farm lands
served by the roads has amounted to
from one to three times the total cost
OF the improvements. The increase I'm
values I'm those instances which were
recorded ranged from 63 to so per
cent in Spotsylvania county. Va; from
6S to 1874 in Dinwiddle county. Va: 20
to 80 in Leen county, Va; 25 TO 100 I'm
Wise county. Va; 8 TO ia in Frank
lin county, n. y; so to 100 I'm Dallas
county, Ala; 25 to so i'm 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 a dis
tance of one mile upon each side OF
the roads improved
In SpOtsylvania county careful
record was made in 1910 OF 80 farms
located on the road selected for i'm
provement. OF the Z farms sold in
1912 the prices actually paid show in
creases of from 81 TO 1l6 per cent over
the 1910 valuation. The average value
after the roads were improved was
S2S.26 per acre. as compared with
Sl7.31 previous TO the Improvement
In 1913 four transfers of farm land
were on the basis OF $3011 per acre.
whereas the properties we're listed In
1910 at only S13.s9 per acre. 1t ap-
pears that the 1851 acres sold in
1914 increased in value $2S 500. or so
per cent. or from $2446 to $44.1O per
acre.
In Dinwiddle county Va, the actual
price OF 43 farms sold or offered for
sale from 1909 to 1914 ranged in price
from $S.38 to $43.74 per acre before
the roads were built. and from S24.7O
to $3.50 per acre after the roads were
improved
In Lee county, Va. a study OF eight
tracts along the roads before and after
Improvement indicated that these
properties increased about $23 per
acre, or about 20 per cent.
In Wise county, Va, a study OF eight
representative farms located on roads
showed that they increased in value
from an average OF s49O6 per acre
before Improvement to 1914 after the
roads were improved There we're in
creases in valuation in other sections
Of from $50 to 500 or even 800 per
acre.
In Franklin county, n. w. the 6g-
ures seem 10 indicate that the change
from earth, sandy and loan roads to
bituminous mscadsm was followed by
increases averaging $3.50 per acre,
or about 307 per cent.
In Dallas county. Ala, careful in
yestigatIon seemed to indicate that the
road Improvement has added at least
So TO each acre OF land within a half
mile Of improved roads. Tracts sold
at from SS TO $40 per acre we're sold
again after road Improvement Al from
500 to s25 per acre.
In Lauderdaie cDun.y Hiss, the to-
tai assessed valuation Of real prop
erty outside Of the city was S2757.546.
This increased in 1914 after road inn
provement TO S31S3.8O9. or t54 per
cent Local real estate men place the
increase in land values on account Of
improved roads At from rs TO so per
| cent.
In Manatee couniy. Fla, careful
study Of sales and real estate records
indicated that the Improvement Of
roads has added from i5 10 100 per
cent. or AZ least SIS per acre, 70 the
selling price Of all lands within one
half mile OF improved roads. This
would give a total Of gGii 900. or more
than twice the value Of the bonds Is
sued.