The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-12-22
LAND VALUES ARE
RAISED BY IMPROV-
ING ROADS.
INCREASE In SELLING PRICES OF TIL
LIABLE FARMS SHOWN BY U. S.
FIGURES REPORT BY SPECIALIST.

To determine, as far as possible, the
exact dollars and cents effect on
county of the improvement of bad
roads, specialists of the office of pub
lie roads and rural engineering of the
United States Department of Agri-
culture, made economic surveys in
eight counties in each of the years
from 1910 to 1915, inclusive.
This study Of the increase in the
values of farm lands in the eight
counties reveals the rather interest
ing fact that following the improve
ments of the main market roads,, such
as have been built recently in Anne
Arundel and other Maryland counties,
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 i'm
provements. The increase in values
in those instances which were re-
corded ranged from 63 per cent to 80
per cent. 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 i'm
proved.
In Spottsylvania county, Va, a
careful record was made in 1910 of
thirty-five farms located on the road
selected for Improvement. Of the
seven farms sold in 1912, the prices
actually paid show increases of from
81 to 116 per cent over the 1910 valu-
alton. The average value after the
roads were improved was $2S.26 per
acre, as compared with $17.31 pre-
vious to the improvement
In 1913 four transfers of farm land
were on the basis of $30.11 per acre,
whereas the properties were listed in
1910 at only $13S9 per acre. 1t ap-
pears that 1,451 acres sold in 1914
increased in value $2S,500, or so per
cent or from $24.46 to $44.1O per
acre.
In DinWiddie county, Va, the actual
price of forty-three farms sold or Of
fered for sale from 1909 to 1914 ranged
in price from $8.3S to $43.74 per acre
before the roads were built, and from
$24.7O 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 70 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 $49.O6 per acre be-
fore Improvement to 1914 after the
roads were improved. There were
increases in valuation in other sec
tiOns of from $50 to $50, or even $100,
per acre.
In Franklin county, n. Y, the fig
ures seem to indicate that the change
from earth, sandy and loan roads to
bltumlnous macadam was followed by
increases averaging $3.50 per acre,
or about 30.7 per cent.
In Dallas county, Ala, careful in
Vestlgatlon seemed to indicate that
road Improvement has added at least
80 to each acre of land within a half
mile OF improved roads. Tracts sold
at from $S to $40 per acre, were sold
again after road improvements, at
from $40 to s25 per acre.
In Lauderdale county, Miss, the to-
tai assessed valuation of real prop
erty outside of the city was $2,757 $40.
This increased in 1914 after road i'm
provement, to $3,1S3,SO9, or 1914 per
cent. Local real estate men place the
increase in land values on account of
improved roads at from % to so per
cent
In Manatee county, Fla, careful
study of sales and real estate records
indicated that the improvement of
roads has added from Is to 100 per
cent, or at least SIS per acre, to the
selling price Of all lands within one
half mile of improved roads. This
would give total of $611 900, or more
than twice the value of the bonds is
sued.