ECOlSrOMIC SURVEYS OF COUNTY HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT. 67 



shipments of farm products at Selma alone amomited to 9,452.8 tons, 

 as compared with only 569.9 tons incoming shipments of farm prod- 

 ucts, both exclusive of cotton. The farmers in this section are no 

 longer relying solely upon cotton, but are devoting themselves more 

 and more to general farm crops and to the raising of live stock and 

 poultry. (See PL XXVIII.) 



An indication of this change iu agricultural methods is shown by 

 the facts that there were- 12 silos built in the county in 1914 and 42 in 

 1915, and that a creamery was built in Sehna in 1915. This creamery 

 now produces 1 ton of butter each week, requiring about 3 tons of 

 cream, which is hauled in over country roads an average distance 

 of about 44- miles. 



Nearly all products, except such as are consumed on the planta- 

 tions, are hauled over the public roads to Sehna. Comparatively 

 httle shipping is done from local stations. There is some shipping 

 from Marion Junction, the radius for which is about 5 miles. The 

 total rail shipments from Marion Junction in 1913 included 5,100 

 tons of hay, 2,500 bales of cotton, and 26 carloads of live stock. 



The average load on the old roads was about 1,500 pounds, and on 

 the new roads is at least 2,500 pounds, although much larger loads 

 are frequent. On one of the improved roads about 10,000 pounds of 

 bridge steel were hauled with 4 mules. From 8 to 10 bales of cotton 

 or from 2 to 2^ tons are frequently hauled over the improved roads 

 with 2 mules. 



In 1915 there were 305 automobiles registered in the coujity, and 

 it is estimated that at least one-half of the traveling salesmen who 

 operate out of Selma use motor vehicles. One refining concern sends 

 its motor truck aU over the county. Three bottling works operate 

 5 motor trucks on country roads. Motor trucks also operate between 

 Selma and Marion Junction, 14 miles, and Selma and OriwiLle, 16 

 miles, carrying supplies for merchants. The cost of operating these 

 trucks per month is about as shown in Table 23. 



Table 23. — Cost of motor truck operdtion. 



Item. 



Insurance 

 Privilege . 



Driver 



Helper... 

 Gasoline. . 

 Tires 



Selma to 

 Orrville, 

 25 trips, 

 average 

 load, 

 2 tons. 



S14. 17 



1 12. 50 



30.00 



15.00 



25.00 



1 12. 50 



Selma to 



Marion, 



Junction, 



42 trips, 



load, 

 U tons. 



S14. 17 

 12. 50 

 30.00 

 15.00 

 58.64 



1 10. 00 



Item. 



Depreciation 



Repairs 



Interest 



Total. . 



Selma to 



OrrvlUe 



(lemiles). 



2 S30. 00 

 18.00 

 12.00 



159. 17 



Selma to 



Marion 



Junction 



(UmUes). 



2S42.00 



1 10. 00 



18. 50 



210.28 



1 Estimated, 



2 Equivalent to 20 per cent. 



