Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-10-11
pICKINsON,S ROADS.

III hlNSON - 1tOADS.
Fhe federal government has made
, numerous exhaustive Investigations
, TO determine the extra cost OF NOV
!, ing farm products over various kinds
OF roads. II announces that the av-
orage cost of hauling loads over paved
roads is from 10c to ! sc per ton per
mile, while the average cost of haul
ing loads over the average dirt road
Is from 25c to 35c per ton per mile.
The government concludes that the
extra expense of moving farm prod
ucts and other heavy material over
country roads is from &c to / SC per
ton per mile more than to move the
same loads over paved roads. Taking
the lowest estimate of sc per ton
mile extra for moving loads over dirt
highways than over paved roads, that
would be very low and conservative
estimate of the extra cost of hauling
loads and moving all kinds of vehicles
over the Golden Belt thru Dickinson
county in its present condition than
1t would be If 1t were paved road
SO far as known, no count has been
made of the number of vehicles that
pass over this road, nor no attempt
has been made to estimate the num-
Der of tons that pass over this road
Gaily. Counting the weight of all
kinds of vehicles, automobiles, loaded
trucks and loaded wagons, it is prob
able that 200 tons pass over this road |
c,ery "a hours. Estimating that
only 100 tons pass over this road
daily including automobiles, wagons,
loaded trucks, loaded wagons, and all
other vehicles, would mean a daily
loss to the people who use this road
OF $500 per day per mile, or total
of $1.S2O.00 per year per mile of
3G6 days. This sum, which might be
considered as a mud tax, is equiva-
lent to 5 per cent interest on $780,
500. In other words, If the above
figures are true, the people who use
his road could afford to pave the
same at an expense of $36, 500 per
nile and the annual loss that they
ire now sustaining would pay the en-
Ire interest on the Investment. 1t
8 estimated that brick or concrete 4
Dad l s feet wide can be built over
his section of highway for from $751; J.
100 to $4,000 per mile. This is &
sss than half what the road is cost
re the people who use 1t at present. a
Under the present Kansas road IL
az if this road were improved. the "
ederal government would pay Is per 4
snt of the cost The remaining SIS Il
er cent would be divided 25 per cent Sc
. the benefit district. which would o.
lclude the land adjacent to The road, II
5 per cent to the township or town W
hips thru which the district would I'll
'ss and so per cent to the entire M
OF the county's share, h,
Il towns and railroads would pay te
lilly half hs
rhe people of Abilene have already
lved miles of streets which are at
luivalent to double the number of to
wed roads. With all these favor IN
Die conditions to the paving of this gil
lrticular section Of road thru Dick in
son county, there seems to be no
lid reasons for holding back on no
arting the necessary work for i'm tn,
owing this piece OF road as soon as 10,
'ssible. hi
The Reflector would be very glad WI
have communications from farm sh,
s, public officials and others inter- on
ted in this road to see what the No
niment seems to be. 1t might be ur,
III also for the Commercial club to the
range with someone to count the his
mber Of vehicles that pass over this rea
ad during an average days traf- -
BY getting the number Of vehi-
IS and the average tonnage, under bee
governments rules tor comput- the
, costs. il can be determined ap- ing
'ximately what loss the users OF at
$ road sustain daily and annual and
all