The Monticellonian., 1916-12-14
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.

on 6OnQS anu AIlC EHFNilSN
of Maintenance.
Improvement of roads in eight Sc
lected counties in different sections Of
the United States resulted in the ag-
gregate, in Il total gross annual saving
i'm hauling costs of SG27, 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 fer the group of counties ia
lower since the roads were improved,
it 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
393, recently published
The eight counties in which the
studies were made are SpotsylYania,
DinWiddie. Lee and Wise counties. Air-
gnia; 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 1t
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,
Willie 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-
yailing in the several communities.
Effects by Counties.
In Spotsylvania county. Virginia, a
bond issue of $4,000 was provided
and IS miles of road were improved.
The average loads hauled i'll Il two
horse wagon increased materially after
the roads were improved, and tou=mile
costs dropped from 80 cents to 1874
cents. This meant gross ton-mile
saving of 1868 cents. or net ton-mile
saving when charges We're made for
interest on bonds and maintenance of
roads. of 14.9 cents. Tie gross total
annual saving in the county IS, there
fore. approximately $150.eo0; and when
deductions are made for interest and
maintenance costs the annual indicat-
ed net saving is $130610.
In Dinwiddfe county, Virginia,
bond issue of S305. 900 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 Il tWo-hOrse wagon
increased from about 1000 pounds to
about 800 pounds, and ton-mile costs
decreased from 80 cents to Is cents.
The net ton-mile saving is 49, cents
and the Indicated gross saving for the
county is $124,970
In Lee county, Virginia, fund of
1891 900 was provided by bonds, and
the state contributed labor worth more
than $21 900. Ninety-nine miles of
road were improved. Average loads
increased from 1,500 to 1000 pounds,
and ton-mile costs We're reduced from
10 cents to % cents, with net ton
mile saving of 106 cents. The gross
annual saving for the county was
$50, 400.
In Franklin county. New York, bonds
to the amount of 100000 were issued,
and 135 miles of road were improved.
Average loads increased from about
200 pounds to 5,557 pounds. Ton
mile costs dropped from 30.3 cents
to 90 cents, and the net ton-mile
saving was Ill cents. The gross an
nual saving in the county for hauling
charges has been approximately $780,
600 since the roads were improved
County Saves 100000.
In Dallas county, Alabama. $366977
secured from the bond issue was used
to improve 101 miles of road Aver
age loads increased from l 500 pounds
to $500 pounds, and ton-mile hauling
costs fell from 80 to 10 cents. The
net ton-mile saving was 100 cents.
It is estimated that the county saves
annually 500 900 gross in hauling costs
as result of the road improvement.
In Lauderda1e county, Mississippi,
100000 worth of bonds was issued.
and SO miles of road improved Av-
erage loads increased from 1900 to
$500 pounds, and hauling costs
dropped from 81 to 20 cents per ton
mile. This brought about a net saw
ing of 80 cents per ton-mile when
all annual charges against the road
improvements We're considered. The
annual gross saving to the county Is
approximately S43 400.
In Manatee county, Florida. 500. 800
obtained from bond issue improved
63 miles ef road. Average loads in
creased from 1.500 pounds to 1890
pounds, which resulted in reduction
of ton-mile hauling costs from 40 to
20 cents. The net saving per ton-mile
since the roads have been improved is
county saves annually in gross haul
Ing costs $50, 573.
In Wise county. Virginia. S1,031.-
57S.54 was provided for road work bv
bond issues, state contributions and il,
other ways. From this fund SO miles
of road have hppn Sllrfoced ord 90.