Show ROADS PAY FOR themselves according to data collected value of farms farm bordering on improved highways highway Is 1 much increased the direct effect that changing bad roads into good roads has haa upon land value and the general economic welfare of a community to la shown in several concrete illustrations gathered by the united states department of agriculture ri the department has just issued a statement on the subject based upon a mass of Inform information atlon gathered by the office of public roads which Is making a special study of the economic effect of road improvement in the country according to data gathered where good roads replace bad ones the value of farm lands bordering on the roads increase to such an extent that the cost of road improvement pro Is equalized if not exceeded the general land values as well as farm values show marked ad advances following the improvement of roads As the roads in no way affect the th soil fertility or quality of the farm advances are due essentially to the decrease in the cost coat of hauling produce to markets marke tit or points fars faris are now regarded as plants for the business of farming and any reduction in their profits through barfly heavy costs for foe hauling on bad roads naturally reduces their ca capitalization izadi on into values with reduced costs tor for hauling profits are increased with the result that the farm plant shows satisfactory earnings on a capital value the automobile also has began to balan bo an important factor ln in In increasing creasi ng rural values where good roads road sirie in produced trod |