The record-union., 1897-07-31
HOW TO OBTAIN
BETTER HIGHWAYS,
Interesting Address by Otto DOner
OF Milwaukee,
Delivered at Chautauqua Convention at
Dixon, Illinois.
ed to Improve the Roads, but
Every Glass of People Should be
Made to Contribute to the Cost.

DIXON Qll.), July 30.-At the Rock
River Chautauqua this afternoon Otto
Dorner of Milwaukee, Chairman of the
Improvement Committee of the Ma
tional League of American Wheelnen,
delivered an interesting address on
How Shall We Obtain Better Roads?"
The great question before us is how
shall we obtain better country high
ways. The question is not DO we need
good roads,. but How shall we get
them Road building in the United
States has been left entirely in the
hands of the farmers and IL charge OF
the local town authorities These To-
cal authorities. as d rule, have 10
knowledge of the science Of road build
ing, and fifty years OF experience has
shown 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 twen-
ty and thirty years ago. A radical
Improvement in the system itself must
be made.
THE League of American Wheelmen
has been the subject of much criticism
on account of its agitation for better
highways. We have been accused of
selfshness in the matter. 1t is be-
lieved by many that we wheelmen ex-
pect farmers to load themselves up
with taxes, that they might build roads
for the convenience of bicycle riders.
No greater mistake could be made We
of the League of American Wheelmen
who are engaged in this agitation for
better roads feel that to-day the farm
er bears his full share of public tax
alton, and that it should not be un-
necessarily added to. We feel that
mistake has been made in the past in
expecting farmers alone to pay for
building roads, and in leaving the en-
tire responsibility for our roads in
their hands. The farmers of the Unit
ed States are but a fraction of our
population, and they are by no means
the only ones who will profit by the
construction of good roads.
1T 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 farm
ers immense amounts Of money in
hauling products, this saving would in
directly benefit population. Neither is
the farmer the only one who travels
the country highways. Country mer-
chants, doctors and professional men,
peddlers, pleasure seekers traffic seek
ers, and last, but not least, the Wheel
men, would be directly benefited by
good roads. 1t is unjust, therefore,
that the farmers should pay for build
ing these roads.
Il am glad of an opportunity to say
to a gathering of farmers that the L.
A. w. proposed to help them in bring
ing about a proper division of the cost
of good roads, so that city people, the
capitalist, merchants and manufactur-
ers, the wealthy corporations, railroads,
insurance and telephone companies, in
fact, every class Of people shall con-
tribute to the cost of building them;
that a part of the cost of good roads
shall be made out of the State tax, ac-
cording to the amount of property a
taxpayer owns We propose that the
States shall help to build, and divide
the total cost between the people Of the
locality who are most directly inter
ested. This is not a theory only, but
has been in practice with great sue
cess in New Jersey, Rhode Island,
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. New
Jersey farmers are enthusiastic over
this State aid system, and the towns
and counties are glad to pay their
share of the cost of these roads, so
long as the State pays its share.
THE Farmers National Congress has
passed resolutions in favor of State
aids, and John NJ. Stahl, the able and
energetic Secretary of that organiza-
ton, is one of it's warmest advocates.
"All classes are beginning to realize
the great economic success of perna-
nent highways. Farmers feel that
they have too long been compelled 20
build and improve roads at their own
expense, and that they are entitled to
State support in this great necessary
public improvement. Upon these lines.
and upon this line alone, the good roads
movement is bound to succeed"