ECONOMIC SURVEYS OF COUNTY HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT. 67 
shipments of farm products at Selma alone amounted 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 in 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 Selma in 1915. This creamery 
now produces 1 ton of butter each week, requiring about 3 tons of 
cream, which is hauled in over county, roads an aye? distance 
of out 41 miles. 
Nearly all products, except cach as are consumed on the planta- 
tions, are hauled over the public roads to Selma. Comparatively 
little 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 county, 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 all 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 Orrville, 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 operation. 
Selma to 
Selma to ‘ 
‘Marion, 
ee Ji unction, Selma, to peta te 
Ttem. ara age 42 trips, Ttem. Orrville | ynction 
oad, avers (16 miles). (14 miles). 
2 tons. | 41 tons. 
Ancurances= ee $14.17 $4 17) || Depreciabion 22-5 ye eae oe 2 $30.00 | 2 $42.00 
IPELVINO SG Smet ee eee e Na eth 1 12. 50 12. 50 eS Ro ain ie is ee Be 18.00 1 10. 00 
WD RIV OTs eat es Be ik 30. 00 SOMQO> | MiniteReStee acne seers eee 12. 00 18. 50 
TeV OYES eee sean Si I es 15. 00 15. 00 
Gasolin eke aoe eae 25. 00 58. 64 ST Oba see eee roe eee 3 159, 17 210. 28 
HT Rats) Se ie gat Se Nant ee ae 1 12. 50 1 10. 00 
1 Estimated. 2 Equivalent to 20 per cent. 
