144 AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING 



roads are provided between the farm and the city, enabling 

 the farmer to deliver his products quickly and cheaply. 



Again, good roads permit the marketing of farm products 

 when the prices are most favorable. In many localities, 

 when prices are best the farmer is unable to deliver his 

 crops, owing to the fact that the roads are impassable. 



Also, good roads furnish to the farmer a wider choice 

 of markets. With good roads prevailing, it is possible for 

 him to deliver his products to any one of several centers. 

 Good roads tend to equalize the supply of produce on any 

 given market between favorable and unfavorable seasons of 

 production. Lastly, good roads tend to equalize local mer- 

 cantile business throughout the different seasons of the year. 

 In some instances little business can be done when the farmers 

 are unable to get into town on account of the bad roads. 



Good roads tend to equalize railroad traffic. Often dur- 

 ing the period of bad roads, farm products are not delivered, 

 and the railroads have little to do. Then when the roads 

 become passable to heavy traffic, farmers sell their products 

 in such large quantities as to cause a congestion of traffH 



SOCIAL BENEFITS 



Social Benefits. Perhaps of equal importance with the 

 financial benefits to be derived from the system of good 

 roads are the social benefits. Good roads permit more easy 

 intercourse among country people, and between country 

 people and city people. Good roads place the farm nearer 

 the city, thus overcoming to a certain extent some of the dis- 

 advantages of country life. They are also a factor in assist- 

 ing in the development of the consolidated rural school, and 

 facilitate the rural mail delivery. The United States Post 

 Office Department will not establish or continue a rural 



