The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-11-30
WHAT GOOD ROADS
MEAN TO A COUNTY
Investigations of Federal Office
. Show Value of Improved
ThOrOughfares

A ID per cent iacr.ose in tn, pro-
portion of the available children at
tending schools took place following
the construction Of goo, roads in 8
counties studied by the Office of Public
Roads and Rural Engineering of the
department it is shown in recent
publication of the Office, Department
Bulletin No. 1913. The Improvement
In roads was followed also in several
OF the counties the report shows, by
consolidation of a number of the lit
tie one-room schools into graded
schools, which give the pupils better
educational advantages; by a develop
ment of various industries; and by So
cial improvements due to easier in
tercourse. These improvements are
related closely to increases in land val
ues and decreases in hauling costs,
effects also traced to the construc-
ton of improved roads. The studies
were made in Spotsylvania, Dinwiddie,
Lee and Wise Counties Va; Lauder
dale county, Miss; and. Manatce coun-
ty, Fla.
In Spotsylvania county, Va, the
average daily school attendance in
creased from 81 per cent of the en-
rollment before the roads were inn
proved to "a per cent after. Several
small schools were consolidated. Be-
tween 1909, the year preceding the
building of good roads, and 1913, the
year following their completion, the
shipment of forest products, the prin-
cipal products of the county, increased
more tnan 70 per cent. The increase
during this period in the poultry busi-
ness in the county was ~ per cent,
and in dairying 10 per cent.
In Dinwiddie county, Va, the aver
age daily attendance for children for
13 schools on the improved roads was
1914 per cent of the enrolment in
1928, while the average attendance
for all other schools in the county was
Sc per cent. Several school CONSOLE
dations have been affected, larger
school buildings have been constructed,
and pupils have been transported to
school at the expense of the educa-
tional system since the road improve
ments were made. Truck gardening
and dairying, which were profitable
only within miles of the principal
market town of the new county before
the road improvement, are now carried
on proftably within 7-mile radius.
In Lee county, Va, considerable
industry has been built up following
the road improvements in the ship
ment of tan bark, extract wood and
pulp wood, products which could not
be profitably hauled over unimproved
roads. The improved highway system
has attracted buyers of farm products
who travel from farm to farm and fur
nish new cash market for the farm
ers. There has been 25 per cent in
crease in buggies sold by a county We
hicle factory.
In Wise county, Va, social condi-
lions have been bettered since the
good roads were constructed, many
farmers along the improved highways
having built new homes or improved
old ones, adding sanitary conveniences.
School attendance has increased ma
terially, but since compulsory attend
ance regulations went into effect about
the time the improved roads were COM
pleted the influence of the two fac
tors could not be determined separate
| ly. Several school consultations have
| been made.
Automobile registrations in Frank
lin County, N. Y, increased from 81
before the road improvements in 1912
to 853 after road Improvement in 1914
and two automobile bus lines connect
| ing distant towns in the county were
established as soon as the improved
roads were opened.
| There has been q notable stimulation
of dairying and general diversifcation
on the farms Of Dallas county, Ala.
since the improvement of the roads Of
that county.
In the section of Lauderdale county
Miss, where most of the roads have
been improved, the school attendance
increased from " per cent of the en-.
rollment in 1912 just after the road
work started, to 81 per cent in 1918
after the completion of the work
Several school consultations have
been effected.
In Manatee county, Fla, which pro
duces chiefly fruits and vegetables
these products could not be hauled
over the sandy roads before the i'm
provement was made except at pro
hibitive cost. In the one year, 1921:
following the completion of the goot
-, %I,a oroo II, vocotah1eS increaS