The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-15
SWISS AND AMERICAN ROADS.
4 Compa rison That Il Not Creditable
To the United states.
Otto Dorner.

Otto Dorner
Switzerland is reported possessing the
very best highways in the world. She - by
no means a wealthy country. but her pc0-
PIE are thrifty and economical her form
further IN advance In matters OF public
economy than any other country the
globe. and the administration of her public
affairs Is conducted with the same thrift,
the same intelligence the same care and
the same economy which DISTINGUISHES her
citizens II is generally supposed thai the
Swiss people have had hundreds OF years
in which TO build their highways. but the
fact is that. up TO the present century. no
serious ehort at rqfd building was made IN
that country The United States consul at
Horgen. AR. Lyle T. Adams in his oficiai
report. explains that the first great con-
Structi0n of highways was begun In the
time of Napoleon. originating with a sys-
tenn OF mountain roads. and gradually de-
velopng, by 1890. into network Of stone
The lesson taught by the roads OF swift
erland is that the best of pubic highways
may be built without great expense. with
out overlooking the country with debt. and
without burdening the citizens with Excess
sive taxes Country highways I'm Switzer-
land have not been left 10 petty local au-
thorities distributed over the land but have
largely been placed in the hands of CEN
trail authority. Road building is conducted
by men who have made a scientific study
OF civil engineering. and its economical and
financial side is looked after by men VINO
are experts I'm that field Mr.. George l..
Catiin. the United States consul at Zurich.
has said: 1T may with safety be stated
tnat IN no country in the world Is the con-
struction of roadways carried out with
more scientific skill and thoroughness than
in Switzerland. The public highways OF the
canton OF Zurich are models in every re-
spect."
Let US make comparison between Swiss
highways and those of our own republic
There we find the construction and MAIN
tenance OF roads in the hands of the cam
tons. and the work in charge of profess
sional engineers. Int our own country.
roads are built almost entirely by the local
town authorities This has heroine
so firmly rooted in country that most
farmers have no conception of a road tax
other than a local town tax which they
must pay. In most of the States of this
country one-half more of the State
taxes are paid by the large cities. and just
or more of a State road tax would be paid
by the cities. he will be enthusiastically I'm
favor of State road taxes. People i'm the
cities want good country roads for the
sake OF their indirect benefits to them, and
Will gladly aid in their construction The
aims OF the National League for Good
Roads and the League of American Wheel
men. in their efforts for better highways.
Is 10 relieve the farmer of the RESPONSE
bility and the expense of looking after
country roads, TO place their construction
upon scientific and economical basis, and
10 charge their cost TO the entire popula-
ton, under "a system of finance which will
not be burden and will be fair to all con-
cerned. Much progress has been made in
through the combined efforts OF farmers
and wheelmen. aided by the good roads
organizations. The Department OF Agri-
culture at Washington has done much TO
encourage the change, and has published
numerous bulletins upon the subject.