The Farmington times., 1916-05-12
ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY
FARM BUREAU
BERT L. FRANCE
Farm Adviser

ening to the need of comprehensive
system of good roads.
1t requires men of vision to see
the great benefits that must accrue
to all people, consumers as we'll as
producers, as our roads are improved
1t is fortunate that we have so many
public spirited men of this type who
are willing to contribute of their time
and money to the furthering of the
good roads movement.
1t has been ascertaincd by engi-
neers Of ability who have taken great
pains to figure it out that it costs
8 cents to haul ton one mile on
hard surfaced roads,
25 cents on fair earth roads.
80 cents on earth roads containing
ruts,
32 cents on wet sandy roads,
64 cents on dry sandy roads,
and transportation is impossible on
some types of roads at some times in
the year. For instance, the heavy
gumbo roads when wet are almost i'm
passable for light vehicles, say moth
ing of hauling produce over them.
The average haul in the United
States is about 10 miles, so at a cost
of 25 cents per ton a mile, it costs or
an average of $3.50 per ton to haul
our farm produce from the farm n
the railroad.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion reports show that the railroads
handle annually about 100000
tons of freight of which about 80 per
cent or 270,000,000 tons are the pro-
ducts of the soil.
Estimating this at $3.50 per ton.
we have $675, 100000 in this item, of
which two thirds or $400,000,000 is
an absolute loss, due to bad roads.
But these figures, startling as they
appear, are only part of our farm
tonnage. Think of all that moved
from farm to farm, farm to village,
village to village, from farm to docks
for further transportation by water.
This is yet not all. The undeveloped
land, the improperly farmed land, the
great loss and waste of farm products
incident to the great expense of haul
ing them over impossible roads, are
all factors in the tremendous loss due
to bad roads. This loss in full would
no doubt be more than $1,000,0 900
We have today 2,155,000 miles Of
public roads in the United States
About 100000 of these are hard sur
faced. More than nine-tenths of the
grand total of roads in the United
States are almost unfit for use dur
ing the rainy season.
Bad roads nave detrimental effect
upon every form of industry. One OF
the very striking results in the eff
fects upon population. In 25 counties
selected at random by the Office OF
public roads where there was only
an average of 1-2 per cent of i'm
proved roads, the population between
1890 and 1900 fell away over 5000
persons to each county, while in an
other 25 counties where there was ar
average of 40 per cent good roads, the
population in each county had in
creased over 10000 1t is density Of
population and accessibility Of lands
which increases the value of land.
Good roads mean better schools anC
churches. In five States where ir
1914, 38 per cent of the roads were
improved, II out of each 100 pupils
enrolled, attended school regularly. II
five States where in the same yeal
there were only 2 IL per cent of the
roads improved, only 80 out of each
100 pupils enrolled attended regular
ly. Thus good roads enable 80 pei
cent more children to attend school.