OCR Text |
Show Mud and the Farmer A recent editorial in the "Bureau Farmer" says that the barrier of mud which five months out of the year separates five million farm families from the markets where they sell their produce, and likewise buy their supplies, is of supreme importance in the agricultural economic situation. According to this authority, there are almost two and one-half million miles of unimproved dirt roads in the United States, and nearly five million farmers live on them. Farmers In this country pay seven per cent of the highway tax, yet less than three per cent of them are situated on year-round highways. high-ways. Here is room for some "farm relief" re-lief" activity which will actually relieve. re-lieve. The greatest present need, in the matter of highways, is improved im-proved iarm to market roads. These can be constructed, with a durable water-proof surface, at a low cost and without large maintenance expense. ex-pense. The live million farmers now living liv-ing with a barrier of mud between them and their markets, are deserving de-serving of immediate consideration. Good roads will probably do more than anything else to advance agricultural agri-cultural progress and prosperity. |