OCR Text |
Show Better Roads Increase Use of Motor Vehicles Improved roads throughout the country have been largely responsible for the great increase in the use of motor vehicles In recent years, because be-cause they have made traveling easier and more rapid and have greatly reduced re-duced the cost of operation of motor vehicles. The average motorist is .bound to realize that a good paved road reduces re-duces the cost of driving an automobile, automo-bile, by savings effected an gasoline, tires and repairs. This much is apparent ap-parent when he contrasts the results of his driving over a rough dirt road and that over a good, even surface, such as concrete pavement. But he probably will not keep an accurate check on the savings effected. Figures compiled by George A. Pond, cost accountant at the University Uni-versity farm, St. Paul, Minn., show that better roads were perhaps the greatest single factor In reducing the automobile expenses for Minnesota county agents during 1923. The cost of operating cars of county agents in Minnesota in 1923 was less than 57 per cent of that in 1920, Mr. Pond says In a bulletin. Last year, fifty-six county agents reported that they ran their automobiles automo-biles an average of $.92-1 miles each nt a total mile cost of 6.49 cents, while in 1920 fifty-one county agents covered an average of 0,447 miies each at n total mile cost of 11.51 cents. All but two or three of the machines were light, four cylinder cars. While other factors entered into the reduction in operating costs, Mr. Pond credits improved highways with the greater part of the saving. |