Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-07-07

Low Those of America Contrast with
Those Abroad.

Low Those of America Contrast with
Those Abroad.
One of the most interesting govern.
mens reports ever published is that emit
tied, Streets and Highways in Foreign
Countries just issued by our depart
ment of state and consisting OF reports
from United States consuls upon the
construction and maintenance of high
ways in foreign lands. If anything were
necessary to show the great superiority
Of European roads over our American
wagon roads, these reports would DO it
most effectually, but America has long
been known to be so deficient in the con-
struction and maintenance of wagon
roads that the object of this report as
compiled by the state department is to
indicate how they may be improved.
The report is too voluminous and EN-
braces too many countries to be even re-
viewed in an editorial, but we may take
that portion of it which refers TO Swift
erland as a specimen of the whole.
The network of highways with which
Switzerland has been covered consti-
tutes the pride and glory of that little
republic. Switzerland has nearly 5000
miles of splendid country wagon roads,
although her area is less than one-third
that of Nebraska. Her 100000 Of pop
ulation may well take pride in these
highways, which are the most scientific
ally constructed and best maintained
wagon roads in the world. Whether
they climb mountain roads or extend
into the remotest valleys, they are
models in every respect, both as to
foundation, surface and grade. They
are free to the public, and the laws
which control and protect them are in
telligent and strict They are under the
general control of the central govern
ment of Switzerland, but each canton
and every district of each canton are re-
quired to keep them in order and pro-
vide police surveillance for them.
1t is nearly 1000 years since the Ro-
man engineers first laid out few Of
the main highways of Switzerland, and
it is the following Of the plans they pro-
vided and the methods they adopted
which make the roads of Switzerland so
perfect Constructed in the first in
stance for the march Of armies and the 4
postal service of the Roman empire, |
they fill now with equal perfection the
peaceful uses of commerce and agri- /
culture, and make traffic and travel in
Switzerland delightful and easy.
America can well afford to study the
employed by the roadbui'ders
Of Europe. and the sparsely settled re-
gions Of the west, where agriculture
demands good country
wagon roads, should especially seek to
profit by the experience of the Old
World, for the Old World is as far
ahead Of America in the matter Of wagon
roads as America is ahead Of foreign
Gnds in railroads.
There is one sentence in the consular
reports from Switzerland-tha made by
Mr.. l.. T. Adams-which we wish par.
iculary to impress upon our readers as
worthy of remembrance. 1t is as fol-
ows:
1.-THE worst surface with good foun-
lation affords better road than tie
'ostly surface without a foundation.
This is probably the most important les
on to be got from European experience
n roadbuilding E
The west has a difficult problem be-
ore it TO provide good country roads.
Dur alluyial soil, which lacks the stones
nd gravel used with such good effect
\ Switzerland, presents problems in
which must be solved if
We would have good country roads, and
he solution of which will require much
ingenuity and probably also large ex-
enditure.
We believe, however. that good conn ,
ry highways are almost as essential to
ne prosperity and development of our
lrming regions and country commune
es as good payements are to city, and
lore and more the attention of legisla- /
are and county officers should be direct
! to their Improvement.
The farmer who is ten miles from ,
)wn, but who is connected with it by !
God country road which is passable at
i times, is, for practical purposes, :
luch better off and much nearer to the :
Iarket than man only FIVE miles from I
'wn. but connected with it only by :
,ad which is impossible half Of the
me. and this general truth applies to Z
WINS as well as country. for both town
nd country are interested in securing :
Use of traffic and travel. -Omaha r
Iorld- Herald. !
Supervision of Country Roads. +
II Il in,nOseillle "a have s,oo5 roads nm