The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-02-09

one team, and the three other teams
return home. These instances show
that while it is desirable, of course,
to have improved roads to each farm,
where this is impracticable all farm
ers derive considerable benefit from |
the improvements which 1t Is possible |
to make with the available funds.
The Popularity of Good Roads In
California
The recent vote on SIS, 900, 900
bond issue to carry on the construc-
tion of good roads in California at
fords good indication of the growth
in popularity Of this class of public
works. In 1910, the vote on an
$18,OOO,0O0 bond issue to inaugu-
rate a state highway system was
93,297 to 80,509 in favor of it, and
there were IA counties which cast
an adverse vote. In the election last
November there were 542,239 affirm
alive and 1871 negative votes and
every county voted for the issue.
While the sentiment against road i'm
Eprovements increased 70 per cent, as
expressed by the number of votes
cast, the favorable sentiment increas-
ed 480 per cent during years. ex-
perience with better highways. The
strongest opposition to the state bond
issue of 1910 was in Los Angeles
county, where the people voted
against the proposition by 1884 to
1866. In 1915, the bond issue was
carried by vote of 126,361 to 49,
485. This is particularly significant
because the greatly increased free
use of improved roads there by COM
mercial vehicles has aroused strong
deposition from railway companies.
These contend that it is enequitable
to tax them to build expensive roads
for the use of competitors who pay
little or nothing for the privilege and
operate without any of the regula-
tions which govern rail carriers. In
that county the railway companies
not only paid for their franchises in
many cases and pay 5 to per cent
of their gross income to the cities
: and state, but are also responsible
for the construction and maintenance
: of the pavements on the streets they
traverse for a width of feet outside
: the outer rails. This feature of the
road problem in California is not
likely to be settled for some time.
DR.. L. I. Hewes of the U. s. office
of public roads and rural engineer
ing has made some interesting inves-
!, legations of the cost of hauling farm
products. In seven counties he found
the average cost of hauling one ton
mile on unimproved roads was 29.1
!. cents. The range was from Is to
.. 81 cents He also found that the
cost Of hauling on system Of i'm
proved roads varied from 2 to 10
cents less than on unimproved roads.
II we consider the average reduction
: as 5 cents a ton-mile, then 33 tons
! day will provide $500 year and
IS tons a day will provide $1,000 a
year in savings on the cost of haul
g ing.
The return from a good road also
flows in part from its power to di-
3 rect the development of the district
f traversed. If you doubt that road
s improvement quickens such growth,
t ask any real estate operators for
: their opinion, or observe that every
a advertisement of a farm for sale
n mentions its location on or near an
= improved road as an attraction,
= = We Buy Pleasure
: There are excellent reasons for in
+ Guiding the pleasure of using an I'M
) proved road as part of the return
I on our investment. The people OF
o the United States spent in 1915 ST.
e 500, 900, 900 for spurious and malt
liquors, $500, 100000 for tobacco
l. $450,O00,000 for the movies,
y $500, 100000 for candy, $200,OOO,-
5 900 for soda water and $50,00O,0 700
: for chewing gum. The total of these
pleasures is $4,300,O00,00O. So ]
o think it conservative to say that the
I average man is willing to pay some
Il thing for pleasure. There can be nc
e question about the pleasure derived
from riding on GOOD roads, and that
= a part of the money invested in such
5 roads can be logically justified on
the score of this pleasure. After all
q the total annual expenditure on roads
Z in the United States Is only equal to
s our purchase of candy and merely
. one-eighth of the money spent on
!, liquor.
e Can't Escape 1t
g Our main improved roads are go
e ing to cost us under the most favor
n able conditions a considerable sum