The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-02-15
THE BLACK RIVER BRIDGE

The need Of bridge over Black
river at or near Fosters Ferry. is some
thing that has long been felt By the
White river farmers. especially during
the autumn npuths wi ben the river is 90
low that steamers cannot get above that
point. At that season the farmers have
pretty COED roads, aad can haul COLI
siderable produce to market, bns a ferry
necess:tafes delay, whereas bridge
across that stream would insure q more
rapid transit at less expense to the
traveller.
The matter was brought before Tie
Board Of County Commissioners at
their session which has just closed, and
they split upon the merits OF the, ques-
ton. Messrs. Maddocks and CBrien
voted to build the proposed bridge ct
that point, while Mr.. Stssrns declined
to do 30 for the reason that there was
NO money in the County Treasury not
already covered by appropriations. and
the Statutes of 1869 expressly prohibit
the drawing Of warrants for bridge
purposes except there be money TO meet
such warrants when they are drawn.
Mr.. Etearns published card in last
nights Tribune. in which he clearly and
ably defends his sction in the premises.
While We must ssy that the course Of
Messrs. Naddocks and OBrien 10 out
side Of the law of the case. yet there ID
. great need Of such Q bridge, and
hence many will justify this action.
They sre not 20 much to blame ss the
system under which they work. Let
each road district be entitled to receive
all the road tax collected therein. and
tho money placed to the credit Of that
district. Then when any Of the several
districts hes enough money to it, credit,
let them hare the benefit Of it. It is
inanifsstly unjuss TO tax man in Sno-
qualmis to build . bridge across White
river.
The pscsssity Of keeping the
funds Of each road district sepe-
rate. is shown BY an occurrence that
took place some years ago in . county
where we lived in California. One dis
trict was composed mostly Of gravelly
soil. requiring but little repairs on the
roads A substantial wire bridg span
ed the only large stream in the district
and there soon grew TO be large sum
in the Distinct Fund. Another district
had bad roads and needed money TO re-
pair them. 90 the Board borrowed from
the rich district to aid the poor one.
Scarcely had tho money been disburs-
ed when o freshet came and swept off
the suspension bridge, leaving the resi-
dents of that district without either
bridge or money. The result was u
suit which ended in the Board replac-
ing the money FROM their own pockets
till the next tax levy enabled them TO
reimburse themselves.
There is no easy way of correcting
wrongs Ia Ion: existing systems nor do
we believe that there ever will be
good system of public roads in this Ter
ritory SO long ms men are allowed to
work their own tax on the roads.
Whenever cash payments are requir.
cd, then contracts can be let for keep
ing the roads in order to the lowest
responsible bidder. and then. prob
ably We may have good roads. The
tax collected in Seattle district could be
expended equally in every direction
for oil the money invested In tina. way
is clear and direct benefit to the city.
Farmers have horses aud wagons on
which they are taxed and they are Gu
titled to good roads on which to drive
them.