ECONOMIC SURVEYS OP COUNTY HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT. 33 



It will be seen from Table 11 that while the assessed values of real 

 estate increased 25.3 per cent from 1905 to 1910, before the roads were 

 improved, it increased 37.8 per cent from 1910 to 1915, the period 

 which covers the improvement of the roads. In making the assess- 

 ments for 1915 the assessors estabhshed a general rule of assessing 

 aU lands on the improved roads at a higher rate than those farther 

 back; in fact, three zones were estabhshed on which land assess- 

 ments were based. The first zone included aU land abutting on or 

 immediately -contiguous to the improved roads; the second zone 

 included all lands within easy hauhng distance of the improved roads ; 

 and the third zone included all other land. The lands in the first 

 zone were assessed at the highest rate, those in the second zone at 

 about one-third less, and those in the third zone at about one-half 

 of the first zone. By this arrangement those who own land on or 

 near the improved roads and who receive the greatest benefit from 

 them pay relatively more taxes than those who live on the unim- 

 proved roads. 



That the increase in assessed value does not constitute a fictitious 

 value, but an actual increase in value, is borne out by the records 

 of sales. The actual value or selling price of land has greatly 

 increased since 1909. This is attributed largely to the saving in 

 cost of hauling and to the easier access of farms to markets and 

 shipping points. The average value of 43 farms sold or offered for 

 sale from 1909 to 1914 ranged from $8.38 to $43.74 per acre before 

 the roads were built and from $24.70 to $73.60 per acre after the 

 roads were improved. Our investigations brought out the fact 

 that the farther away from town on the improved roads the land lies 

 the greater the percentage of increase in value. Within 5 miles the 

 percentage of increase was only 68.3; from 5 to 10 miles out the per- 

 centage of increase was 96.7, and from 10 to 24 miles out of Peters- 

 burg the percentage • of increase averaged 194,9. Details regarding 

 the 43 tracts above referred to are given in Table 12. 



Table 12. — Increase in land values. . 



Number 



of cases 



considered. 



Number 



of miles 



from 



Petersbiu-g. 



Old value 

 per acre. 



New value 

 per acre. 



Increase 

 per acre. 



Per cent 

 of increase. 



5 



22 

 16 



5 and less. 

 5 to 10 

 10 to 24 



S43.74 

 15.25 

 8; 38 



S73.60 

 30.00 

 24.70 



S29.86 

 14.75 

 16.32 



68.3 

 96.7 

 194.9 



EFFECT OF ROAD IMPROVEMENT ON TRAFFIC. 



The dairy and truck industries were profitably carried on before 

 the roads were improved for a distance of only about 3 miles out 

 from Petersburg, the principal market town. Petersburg is located 

 47234°— Bull. 393—16 3 



