FARM MANAGEMENT 153 



two distinct bases: business economy in transportation, and pleas- 

 ure. (P. R. B. 17.) 



Money Value of Good Roads to Farmers. This will be granted 

 by all. That the money value of improved highways is alone suffi- 

 cient to justify the cost of their construction will be confidently 

 claimed or readily admitted by many farmers, questioned by others, 

 and denied by not a few. Speaking, therefore, in behalf of those 

 who for any reason are not influenced by the higher considerations 

 in favor of improved highways, the question may be raised : Will it 

 pay the farmers in dollars and cents to improve their public roads? 



Before attempting to answer this question, let us consider in 

 what ways permanently good roads will prove financially beneficial 

 to farmers. All will agree, we think, that a good road will : (1) Econo- 

 mize time and force in transportation between farm and market; 

 (2) enable the farmer to take advantage of market fluctuations in 

 buying and selling; (3) permit transportation of farm products 

 and purchased commodities during times of comparative leisure; 

 (4) reduce the wear and tear on horses, harness, and vehicles; (5) 

 enhance the market value of real estate. 



Many intelligent farmers will not accept the estimates of their 

 fellow farmers as to the money value of good roads many will 

 even deny that improved highways have any appreciable money 

 value. It is true, however, that many of these very same farmers 

 favor good roads, and would aid in their construction for the same 

 reason that they would build for themselves comfortable and even 

 luxurious homes. (P. R. C. 23.) 



An example of the increased land values brought about by 

 road construction is found in the vicinity of Jackson, in Madison 

 County, Tennessee. The construction was begun in June, 1903. 

 Within one year the land values throughout the county had in- 

 creased, in many instances from 20 to 100 per cent, and the city 

 property greatly advanced in value. The report says: There are 

 no houses to rent in Jackson; builders are busy, numbers of new 

 real estate offices have been opened, large tracts of farm land are 

 being subdivided, and prices are being paid which astonish the most 

 far-seeing champion of this now popular movement. 



New families from adjoining counties and states are constantly 

 coming in, some to make their homes in the city and others want- 

 ing farms on the good roads. Still others, looking ahead and an- 

 ticipating profits, have made purchases 5 and 6 miles back from 

 these roads, paying largely increased prices. (Ag. Dept. Y. B. 

 1903.) 



The great problem of roads in many parts of the country is 

 not one of bad roads to be overcome by macadam, but a problem 

 of grades. The roads often go straight up the hills rather than 

 climb them by easy grades. 



The original roads were rarely laid out with any regard to 

 grades. They were laid out before the days of railroads. They may 

 have had some relationship to the location of early villages but usu- 

 ally have no relationship to the location of present railroad stations. 



