GOOD ROADS 



GOOD roads are not a fad, they are a necessity. They are to the 

 farmer what raih'oads are to the commercial world, and the paved 

 streets and electric roads are to the busy, hustling throngs in the city. 



The farmer is a busy man. He is beginning to appreciate that his 

 occupation is a business and that time and labor represent money. He 

 appreciates the fact that the time is past when he can afford to hire 

 labor or spend his own time at the prevailing prices to haul products of 

 his farm to market over poor roads. He recognizes the fact that his 

 farm is his business house and demands his attention, if it is to prosper, 

 and that he cannot spend hours going over roads with a plodding horse 

 when, with an automobile or a tractor on good roads, he can make the 

 same trip in one-tenth of the time. Gasoline and oil are rapidly dis- 

 placing horses, both on the farm and roads, and the sooner the farmer 

 realizes the economical benefits of rapid transportation, the sooner will 

 he be abreast with the improvements which characterize other lines of 

 business. 



While the conveniences of good roads are of great importance, the 

 financial benefits are surprising. To be sure, it costs money to build a 

 permanently good road, but the farmer, the city dweller and the tax- 

 payers in general cannot make an investment which will give better 

 returns. 



In the United States we have about 2,250,000 miles of roads, and not 

 more than eight per cent have been permanently improved. The cost 

 per ton per mile to haul farm products over the roads varies greatly in 

 different sections, but the average cost is not less than 23 cents. The 

 average haul that the farmer makes to town is nine miles, or approx- 

 imately $2.07 for each ton hauled. In foreign countries, and in our own 

 country, where roads have been improved, it costs 8 cents per ton per 

 mile, or $1.35 per ton less than over poor dirt roads. It is estimated 

 that the farmers of the United States haul to and from their farms 

 300,000,000 tons annually, or, in other words, the farmer pays 

 toll to poor roads each year, amounting to the enormous sum of 

 $377,500,000 which could be saved were the grades improved and the 

 road-bed made of macadam, concrete or some other durable substance. 



We will not attempt to recommend any special make of roads to 

 meet all conditions, believing that the Good Roads Experts in the 

 states, who are familiar with local conditions, are better able to advise 

 the taxpayers. 



In some sections, a well made dirt road is nearly equal to a macadam. 

 In building a dirt road, the first important thing to consider is drainage. 

 The road should be drained on either side by means of good sized tile 

 or deep ditches having a free outlet. The surface should be rounded 

 and kept so, otherwise the water will not run off rapidly Ruts and 

 worn paths will soon make a muddy road, but with a little filling at 



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