Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - X. Internal Communications - 3. Country Roads. By C. E. Gyllenberg
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country roads.
629
each "vägfyrk", and, since 1906, one such "fyrk" (taxation-unit) is levied
on landed estate (common woods excepted) for each 100 kronor of the
assessed value, on common woods for each 150 kronor of the assessed value,
on other real property, for each 200 kronor of the assessed value, and
on income of capital or work, for each 30 kronor of the assessable share.
Small parcels of land, and the income from State tenement lands are,
however, exempt from sharing the burden of road-service.
The keeping of the roads in repair is performed in kind by those who possess
landed estate, with the exception of common woods, and all the roads of each
road-service district are divided among them according to the assessed value of
their farms. The road-service district generally corresponds to the hundred. Of
the amount required for maintaining the roads of the whole district, the State
contributes 3/20> while the remaining 17/äo are distributed between all the "vägfyrks"
(see above) of the district and paid in money into the road-fund by those who
have not already paid their road-tax in kind. With these supplies the road-fund
must pay the cost of the non-divided roads, bridges and ferries, the winter upkeep
(snow-ploughing), administration, road- and bridge constructions, and more
casual expenses. If the money does not suffice, additional sums must be levied in
money on all the "vägfyrks". If, again, a surplus remains, this can be used for
a thorough repair of the roads, or, if this be not required, for an alleviation of
the road-service (abatement of the taxes for the following year). The State also
shares the cost of (the first) partition of roads, or their "gradation" (valuation) and
distribution among those having to do road-service in kind, which is carried out in
the same way as the division of lands During the last few years, the State has
made grants to those road-service districts that are heavily burdened. In 1913, this
grant amounted to 150 000 kronor. Other duties connected with the administration
of roads devolve on a Board of Roads, chosen by the roadkeepers of each district,
and are controlled by an annual road-survey, carried ant by the officials bound to
keep order in the country districts, with the assistance of two jurats (nämndemän).
In 1912, the kingdom was divided into 370 road-service districts. The cost
of upkeep for the "divided" roads was then estimated at 7 550 000 kronor, or
on an average, 12-07 kronor per road-meter. The expenses of the non-divided,
roads, bridges, and ferries came to 1 545 000 kronor; of the winter upkeep,
1 253 000 kronor; of administrative expenses, 286 000 kronor; of road- and
bridge constructions, 2 423 000 kronor, and of other items, 645 000 kronor,
or a total of 13 702 000 kronor. Of this sum, 11 080 000 kronor fell on the
different road-service districts, the rest being paid by the State.
During the last few years, however, vigorous appeals have been made to
the State to undertake the entire charge of the road-service, and numerous
motions have been brought forward in the Riksdag to this effect.
The towns must keep their roads in repair themselves and by their own
authorities superintend those who have to maintain the road-service (land-owners,
contractors, or hired workmen). The upkeep of village roads depends on the
agreements made between those who use them, and disputes are, as a rule,
settled at the courts of justice, on equitable grounds.
The character of the country roads in Sweden has improved considerably during
the last few years, and in general, they may be considered as satisfactory,
excepting in some districts, especially in the north of Sweden. With the
arrival of the motor-car, there has grown up during the last few years an
increased need of improved country-roads, and a "Road Association" is just
now being formed (1914), the object of which is to work for the development
and improvement of the roads in question.
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