The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-04
VALUE OF ROADS TO THE FARMERS
By HOLLAND

Fly HOILAND
 New York, March 3.-(Specal)-A Flor
 ida farmer who works some 300 acres near New Smyrna reports that since the excel lent highway was built from Jackson- vlle south he has been able to transport his farm products by motor truck to Jacksonville, where there is the chief mar ket for his products. He can do this at a smaller transportation cost, anu with far greater certainty so far as im- mediate delivery is concerned than he was able to do when compelled to rely upon railroad transportation. This is only one of many reports which have come to New York from Florida and which tell of the enterprise of the state of Flor ida in the construction of good roads. The state has found that, notwithstanding large expenditures there has been sub stantial profit with good roads investment due to increased transportation and larger farm production and sepedy returns of urns of payments to the farmers. Tsere- fore, the state department of Florida has awarded contract involving s2o00,0o0 for the construction of a modern highway au- equate for motor truck use which IS 10 extend from Jacksonville to Lake City. The contract is the largest ever awarded in Florida for road construction of that kind, and so far as is known the largest contract yet awarded anywhere in the south.
 But it is not in Florida alone that inn proved highway construction Is in pro- gress chiefly although not wholly Tor the purpose of the development of motor truck transportation. Of course, these highways will also be used for pleasure traffic. The uncompleted section of the Nashville Chattanooga division of the Dixie highway over the Cumberland mountain is to be turned over to the con tractors immediately. Some time in the fall of this year this Dixie highway pe- tween Cincinnati and Knoxville Will pc completed. and when this is done for nal celebration of the important event will be held for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the whole country the opening of the Dixie highway for through travel from Cincinnati to and through the south.
 This highway, which is to be construct cd so as to be especially adapted for mo- tor traffic. should bring large amount of in and out transportation to and from Cincinnati.
 WHAT TENNESSEE IS DOING l So also. in Tennessee is to be new con- struction amounting to PIP miles of inn proyed highway. And this constructor is to be upon three of the great modern highways that pass through the state. Furthermore, there are other contracts which when completed will furnish iit-
  cost of the construction of this highway is to be not far from szpooo,00o but the people in Tennessee as elsewhere Tn the south are certain that no better invest ment of money could be. made
 RESOURCES OF THE SOUTH yack of adeauate transportation In great measure explains the procrastina- tion which has characterized the oeVei- o,,,nent of the almost inconceivabiy great - of south. We Oc- ca sionally hear many almost sensational ranorts of the natural resources Of Russia o, of China or of some parts of South America which await development BUN if is now known. not guessed at' put actually known by expert investisauon' that the natural resources or the ehLire sauth are so great as to justify the in- ,.sstment of almost all of our available ca nital in developing them It was re- es1,t,v- said that the United States is an sgarsgation of undeveloped empires sss rselv occupied by the most wastefur ,,panls in the world. In California are hath space and climate which If put to use would create greater ltaiy. ma have heard much of the natural re- ',.oas of the German empire, Holland, Tsron and Formosa, but the gulf states ssasad in area and are vastly richer in
 atrra, resources than are all of these na''0 AS IT IS WITH COTTON Yf +ha cultivation of cotton in the south .,..,.a carried on in accordance with the ,saat scientific methods and supplemented hv vss adeouate transportation instead of an os o,-a~sss of a half bale of cotton per ave- these great plantations could be @ mad. to yield at least bale an acre. THE THE EMPIRE LIKE SOUTHWEST ReferrinE alone to agriculture the pos abilities which await southern aeyeiop- |menf and which may pc in part sccepsya lfloa. so thaf transportation can bss made