Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-01-18

Swiss and American Roads.

Switzerland (says Otto Dorner) is
reported as possessing the very best
highways in the world. She is by
no means wealthy country, but
her people are thrifty and cconomi-
cal. Her form of government is con-
sidercd by many to be farther in adj
vance in matters of public economy
than any other country on 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.
1t is generally supposed that the
Swiss people have had hundreds of
years in which to build their high
ways, but the fact is that, up to the
present century, no serious effort at
road building was made in that
country. The United States Consul
at IIorgen, Mr.. Lyle n. Adams, in
his official report, explains that the
first great construction of highways
was begun in the time of Napoleon,
originating with a system OF noun
tain roads, and gradually developing,
by 1890, into network of stone
roads which covered all the countr
The lesson taught by the roads OF
Switzerland is that the best of pub.
lie highways may be built without
great expense, without overlooking
the country with debt, and without
burdcning the citizens with excessive
taxes. Country highways in Switz-
crland have not been left to petty
local authorities distributed over the
land, but have largely been placed
in the hands of a central 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 who are experts in that field.
Nj. Geo. l.. Catlin, the United
States Consul at Zurich has said:
"lt may with safety be stated that
in no country in the world is the
construction of roadways carried out
with more scientific skill and thor
oughncss than in Switzerland. The
public highways of the canton of
Zurich are models in every respect"
Let us make a comparison between
Swiss highways and those of our
own republic. There we find the
construction and maintenance of
roads in the hands of the Cantons,
and the work in charge of profess
sional engineers. In our own coun-
try, roads are built almost entirely
by the local town authorities. This
system has become so firmly rooted
IN our country that most farmers
have no conception of road tax
other than Il local town tax which
they must pay. In most of the
States in this country onc-half or
more Of the State taxes are paid by
the large cities, and just so soon as
the farmer realizes that One-half or
more of a State road tax would be
paid by the cities, hc will be cnthu-
siastically in favor Of State road
taxes. People in 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 of the League of
American Whcclmcn, in their efforts
for better highways, is to relieve the
farmer of the responsibility and ex-
pcnsc OF looking after country
roads, T." place their construction
upon scientific and economical
basis, and to charge their cost to the
entire population, under system of
finance which will not be a burden
and will be fair to all concerned.
Much progress has been made in
this direction in the Eastern States,
through the combined efforts of far
mcrs and whcclmcn, aided by the
good roads organizations. The De
partmcnt Of Agriculture at Wash
ington has done much to encourage
the change, and has published nu-
mcrous bulletins upon the subject.
O n. % To REA.,
s'sss.''' t''; S"' Nz;z;;Z;:5;;s;.}: -: '''S'