I>iitr,i.t A^o L XL HL IV V EZ 22 EZZ /X X ii. sHxrlT 



DIAGRAM NO. IV — PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL MILES OF PUBLIC 

 ROADS MACADAMIZED 



(h) Transportation and Markets 



This topic involves a summary of all that is most important in the 

 discussion of economic conditions. In the last analysis a farming com- 

 munity is dependent for its prosperity in the widest sense upon its 

 markets. The fundamental rural problem is the economic problem. 

 Good schools, good churches, developed social life, adequate recreation 

 facilities, constant communication with outside forces and influences 

 making for progress, and all their by-products in culture, education, 

 comfort and efficiency, these things that make life in the open country 

 worth while, are all dependent fundamentally upon the economic 

 status of the community. Obviously this is a question of income. 

 Social institutions must always be expected to occupy a second place. 

 Those things which pertain directly to the up-keep of the farm as a 

 producing agency must come first. If there is a sufficient margin of 

 income, social improvements become possible. 



To obtain this margin it must be in a position to dispose of its pro- 

 ducts at a fair profit. Thus great importance attaches to the question 

 of transportation and market facilities. 



(1) Means of Transportation. Three transportation mediums are im- 

 portant in this connection: the Metropolitan Branch of the B. & O. 

 Railroad, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and the roads, particularly 

 the stone roads. These we will discuss in the order named. 



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