CHAPTER XII. 



ROADS. 



Farmers suffer great inconvenience and great money 

 loss on account of bad roads. Good roads, on the other 

 hand, make country life almost ideal. Good roads econo- 

 mize time and energy in transportation ; reduce wear and 

 tear on horses, harnesses and vehicles ; increase the value 

 of farm land. Good roads denote progressiveness and 

 prosperity. Bad roads denote indifference and thriftless- 

 ness. 



Losses Due to Bad Roads. 



642. The estimated cost of hauling wheat over bad 

 roads a distance of 10 miles is 6 cents a bushel ; over good 

 roads, 3 cents. What is the loss to a farmer 10 miles 

 from market who annually sells 1,000 bushels of wheat? 

 If five miles from market? 



643. Not more than four bales of cotton can be hauled 

 with a pair of 1.200-pound horses over bad roads, while 

 eight bales may be hauled with the same horses over good 

 roads. If it now costs 75 cents a bale to market cotton 

 over bad roads, what is the saving to a farmer who annu- 

 ally markets 100 bales over good roads? 



644. Carefully made estimates show that the annual 

 loss to a farmer because of bad roads is 76 cents an acre. 

 What is the loss to a farmer who owns 50 acres? 160 

 acres? 420 acres? 



645. Carefully made estimates show that good roads 

 increase the value of land $6.48 an acre. How much is 

 this increase for a farm of 50 acres? 80 acres? 640 

 acres ? 



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