The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-12-06
FARM VALUES
ON|MPR0VED
COUNTY ROADS
THE INCREASE IN VALUE OF
LANDS IN EIGHT COUNTIES
RANGE FROM SIXTY TO EIGHTY
PER CENT.

Washington, d. c., Dec ITO de.
termine as far as possible the exact
dollars and cents effect on a county
Of the improvement of bad roads.
specialists of the office of Public
Roads and Rural Engineering of the
L. S. Department of Agriculture made
economic surveys in eight counties
in each of the years from 1910 to
1915, inclusive.
This study Of the increase in the
vSiues Of farm lands in the eight
counties reveals the rather interest.
ing fact that following the improve
ment of the main market roads the
increase in the selling price of till.
able farm lands served by the roads
has amounted to from one to three
times the total cost of the improve.
ments. The increase in values in
those instances which were recorded
ranged from 63 per cent to so per
cent. in Spotsylvania county, Va:
from GS to 1872 in Dinwiddie county,
Va; 20 to so in Lee county Va. 25
TO 100 in Wise county, Va; 80 to ia
in Franklin county, N Y. 80 to 100
in Dallas county, Ala; 2j to 80 in
Lauderdale county, Miss; and from
90 to 100 in Manatee county, Fla.
The estimates of increase were based
for the most part upon the territory
within a distance of one mile on 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.
proyement. OF the seven 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 s2S.26 per acre as compared with
SlG31 previous to the improvement.
In 1913, four transfers of farm land
were on the basis of $4,000 per acre,
whereas the properties were listed in
1910 at only $13.S9 per acre. It ap-
pears that 1,ij1 acres sold in 1914
increased in value s2S,5OO, or so per
cent, or from $2446 to $441O per
acre.
In Dinwiddie county, Va, the ac.
.ual price of 43 farms sold or offered
Tor sale from 1909 to 1914 ranged
n price from sS.9S to s43.74 per acre
before the roads were built, and from
S247O to s726O per acre after the
'oads were improved.
In Lee county. Va. a study of eight
racts along the roads before and
Ifter improvement indicated that
hese properties increased about $23
'er acre, or about 20 per cent.
In Wise county, Va. study of
light representative farms located !.
N roads showed that they increased "
n value from an average Of $i9OG
er acre before Improvements to S79.- u
after the roads were improved
here were increases in valuation in il
ther sections of from 500 to $50 "
r even 800 per acre.
In Franklin county, y. Y. the fig "
res seem to indicate that the change
rom earth, sandy and loam roads q
, bituminous macadam was followed Il
y increases averaging $3.50 per j,
ere, or about 3O7 per cent. Il
In Dallas county, Ala, careful in
seemed to indicate that1 e'
Dad improvement has added a least u
TO each acre Of land within half ~
mile Of improve roads Tracts
Did at from s. to SO per acre were
I'D again after road improvement
from $50 to % per acre. fo
In Lauderdale county. Miss, the "a
.tal assessed valuation Of real prop
'ty outside Of the city was s2.757,- :
6. This increased in 1914 after
'ad improvement TO s3,1S3.SO9, or
a per cent. Local real estate men
ace the increase in land values on
count Of improved roads at from
to 80 per cent.
In Manatee county. Fla. careful
ldy Of sales and real estate records
iicated that the improvement OF
ads has added from 15 to 100 per
NJ. or at least s15 per acre. to
e selling price of all lands within
e-half mile of improved roads. This
'uld give a total of s611. or more =
an twice the value OF the bonds -
ued II