The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-07-31
APPEAL FOR GOOD ROADS
Otto Dorner OF the l.. A. w. Talks
to the Chautauquans.
VAST SUMS NOW WASTED
Farmers Should Not Alone Pay for
Building Roads An Who Profit
by Their Construction Should
Be Taxed Proportionately.

Dixon. III, July 5O-At the Rock
river, chautauqua, this afternoon otto
Dorner of Milwaukee,. chairman ~ the
Improvement committee Of the Ma
tional League NJ American Wheelmen,
read an interesting address on How
Shall We ohatin Better Roads He
said In part;
The great question before us Is how
shall we obtain better country high
ways? The question IL not do We need
good roads, but how shall We get
them, Road building In the United
States has been entirely in the hands
of the farmers and In charge of the
local authorities. These local author
titles, as a rule. have no knowledge Of
the science of road building and 20
years of experience has shown a great
deal OF labor wasted and vast amounts
of road taxes collected In vain. In
many places our roads to-day are no
better than they were 20 and 80 years
ago. The League OF American Wheel
men has been the subject Of much
criticism on account of It's agitation
for better highways. We have been
accused OF selfshness In the matter.
II Is believed by people that We wheel
men expect the farmers To load them
selves up with taxes that they might
build roads for the convenience OF
bicycle riders. No greater mistake
could be made. We OF the l.. A. W.
who are engaged In this agitation for
better roads feel that the farmer to-
day bears his full share OF public tax
alton. and that II should not be un-
necessarily added to.
I'VE feel that a mistake has been
made In the past In expecting farmers
alone to pay for building roads and In
leaving the entire responsibility for our
roads In their hands. The farmers OF
the United States are but a fraction
Of our population. and they are by no
means the only ones who VIII pront
by the construction Of good roads. IL
Is claimed that in the state Of New
York every farmer Is obliged to build
roads for eight persons out OF the state
population. Why should not the other
seven contribute To their cost
While good roads would save the
farmers Immense amounts In hauling
products this saving would indirectly
benefit the whole population. Neither u
the farmer the only one who travels
the country highway. Country mer'
chants. dass.ars and professional men
pleasure seekers, and last but moi
least. the wheelmen. would be directly
benefited by good roads. II is unjust
therefore, that the farmers should pay
for building these roads. | am glad
of an opportunity of saying to gath
ering Of farmers that the l.. A. W. pro-
poses TO help them In bringing about
n reduction In the cost of good roads,
so that the city people, merchants,
wealthy corporations. railroad. insur-
ance and telephone companies. In fact,
every class Of people. shall contribute
to the cost of building them. that n
part Of the cost OF good roads should be
paid out Of the state tax according Il
the amount Of property a taxpayer
owns. We propose that the state shall
help To build and divide the total cost
between the people of the locality who
are most directly benefited"