, 1853-02-26
saturday. February %, 1888.
Road Law for Lewis, Thurston,
Pierce, King, Island and JEFF
ferson.


the bill 10 establish territorial road from
the falls Of the Snohomish river in northern
Oregon, to Fort Walla Walla, east Of the
Cascade mountains, our representative in
the legislative assembly (Col. |. N. EBEY,)
previous 10 the close Of its recent session,
obtained the passage Of road law, for the
Counties above enumerated, which, if ac-
quiesced in, will, we think, effectually Sc
cure The object contemplated in the bill for
territorial road referred 10 as having been
defeated
This law contempiates the collection Of
road fund, together with what may be added
by subscription by persons interested, sufi-
cient to open good wagon road from the
mouth Of the CowliIz river to Olympia, and
another across the Cascade mountains.
The law aulhorises the commissioner
court Of the respective counties, at their
April term, 10 decide whether or not they
will levy tax Of four mills on the dollar
on all property in their respective counties,
subject " taxation. Each board of commits
sioners shall certify their decision 10 all the
other counties and if it shall appear that
all the courts have decided TO levy the tax,
then it shall be the duty of the courts to
levy said tax at the July term for the year
lS53-levy said tax as other taxes are levi
ed, and TO be collected in the same manner +;
and al said july term, at which the tax is
levied, the county commissioners of the
counties Of Lewis, ThuTston and Pierce
shall each appointa road commissioner, and
The three SO appointed shall constitute a
board Of road commissioners, who shall
take an oath or affirmation to faithfully dis
charge their duties they shall appoint one
of their number, President of the board
the president of said board shall give bond
and security in the sum of ten thousand
dollars for The faithful performance of their
duties; he shall have power to draw for,
and receive from the different county treas
urers, the full amount Of the tax 50 levied
and collected. The board of commission
ers, or majority Of them, shall proceed to
open and put in repair the roads contem-
plated by the act, either by employing per-
sons to labor on the same, at SO much per
dis.6, or let contracts for the performance
of said work, Or any part Of the same.
We are fully of the opinion that il prop
ely managed, either one or both of said
roads may be completed this year. Let,
for instance, a thousand dollars of said fund
be invested in provisions, and conveyed
across the mountains, to meet the immi-
grants, and 10 alIay the fears Of those who
may have doubts about attempting a new
route. From every indication furnished by
the farming portion ofthe community, it
would seem to be their determination 10 cul-
tivate with wheat, oats, and vegetables, eve
ry acre of land which their circumstances
will admit of; and if such be the case, an
abundance Of produces will have been Sc
cured to our territory for the Subsistence Of
our present population, as also, for the i'm
migration which may seek our borders du-
ring the coming summer. We have aIrea-
dy observed in previous numbers of this pa.
per, that an Indian pack trail existed lhrodgh
several different passes Of the Cascade noun.
tain'. Let provisions, then, be packed out
as suggested, and then say to the immirra-
tion, here are the means Of Subsistence for
time sufficient to accomplish the under
taking before you; go to cork; you have
time sufficient to cut out this road through
to. the Sound and you win not only get 10
The place you wish to go to, BUT roU WILL
eE REMUNERArED. FOR YOUR LABOR. We
will venture the prediction, that by pursu-
ing the above, or some similar course of pol
icy, an abundance Of labor can readily be
obtained to open the road, and good one bs
speedily constructed, and at but compara-
lively little expense. Hundreds of young
men, who are seeking labor, and who will
undoubtedly be part of the coming immi.
grafton, will be glad 10 avail themselves of
this opportunity Of getting to country
where ample wages are paid for labor and at
'ee same time GET PAY FOR COMING. By
pursuing the plan suggested, the road will
be 0Hened almost as fast as trains can trav-
el. From information before us, we are
well satisfied, that from the base of the Cas-
csde mountains on the east, good axeman
will come near, il not quite open the road
atthe rate Of mile per day 10 the hand.
If the immigration should then fall into the