The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-07-30
DAILY INfELLIGENCER.
saturday, July so, 1851.
DEFECTIVE ROAD LAWS.
EDIroa IxrKLLaoExcER:

road OF any length be found that 10 not
troubled with annoying distractions of
some kind. Heretofore the country has
been % sparseiy settled, and the neces-
stiles Of our new settlement 30 multi
form. that but . small portion Of the
peoples little savings could be devot-
cd 70 any one purpose. And Is sinew
ard muscle Was about all the wealth
the community imported in thosa DAYS
sufficient employment for it was found
in wrestling with the necsssariss Of
life FROM the untamed wilderness in
which tIeir lot was cast. Thus their
straitened circumstances forced upon
them Q narrow economy that denied
every luxury in the form ofa public i'm
provement, and that Topped of without
mercy every expenditure that was not
an absolute bread -aDd.butter winning
necessity. Unluckily the policy did
not die with the exigeney of the times
in which il found birth, but has lived
long after bright prosperity has dawn.
ed upon the psopls--a prosperity that
enables them 10 look beyond the sor-
did necessities of the moment to q high.
or contemplation of life, It's duties and
snjoyments. We zee today the same
cramped penuriousness, tha same pnb-
lilo reluctance to tax itself for the pub.
lie good as OF yore, which can be &C.
counted for only upon the theory that
familiarity with things rough breeds
. contempt for things better. And the
people have grown conservative in mat.
tiers wherein conservatism Is the worst
possible trait they could manifest, es-
pecially 10 the matter of dealing with
the public thoroughfares should some
change Of policy be inaugurated. To
be effective the change m ust be radical,
for the system Of management 10 rot
ten to the foundation.
First and foremost, we must change
our road laws; ia many vital points
they are defective. They seem to have
been enacted with the special view Of
letting the roads take care OF them
selves out Of the holiday season, and
when that time comes rouad to fur
nish an excuse for farmers to come to-
gether and have q good time under the
plea OF working out their road tax"
In this way nominal tax of many
thousands Of dollars is each year frit-
tered away without accomplishing the
half OF what would accrue were the
same amount paid in money and prop
srly and judiciously applied. The first
change therefrom is to make all road
taxes payable in money. Then PER-
haps all the profits on the farmers prod
uce will not sift through his wagon in
to the mndholes along bis way to mar
ket, for then the mudholes will disap-
pear.
The second change necessary is to
centralize the authority and RESPONSE
bility in the management of road affairs.
The saying that what's everybody's
business is nobody's business is too
plain to need smpli6oation, but the
principle is we'll illustrated in our
system wherein there is no fixed respon-
sibility except nominally and that re-
sponsibility so loosely defined and SO
hampered In means rs to furnish a
ready excuse for any dereliction of
duty. What is waited is capable
road commissioner for each county TO
have entire supervision of the roads of
his county under direction of the coun-
ty! commissioners. and TO be paid
salary sufficient to enable him for Ger.
tain months in the year to devote his
whole time to the overseeing of road
work and to see that the roads are
kept open and passable throughout the
year. The road moneys to be by the
county commissioners o appropriated in
given sums for specified road improve.
ments to be made under direction OF
the road commissioner. The road com,
missioner 10 give heavy bonds for the
faithful performance OF his duty, and
to DO with his bonds more
personally responsible for injuries to
persons or property that may occur ON
the public highways by reason of dere-
LECTION OF duty on his part. The subdi.
vision OF counties into districts to be
retained - ut present and the commits
sioner allowed to appoint o deputy to
reside 10 each district to be entirely
subordinate to the chief who shall be-
responsible for his scts, the deputy To
be paid say $3.50 Per day only for the
time actually employed in overseeing
work. Each district in q county TO
have appropriated upon its roads each
year ell the road moneys arising from
taxation Of real and personal property
in that district. after dsducting (if
necessary it's pro rata of the salary Of
other road commissioners. The road
poll tax collected in the county 10 be
used first for the payment OF road com.
missionsrs salary and the remainder 10
DO appropriated BY the cor MY com.
missioners where most needed through
the county. Besides this the county
commissioners to Be authorized to levy
. special property tar once rear not
70 exceed . certain rate. where they
may think IL necessary to build bridges.
open new roads or make such extra
improvements. I have thus roughly
sketched out 9 few Of the leading DO: nts
which l think should DO Incorporated
IN our road laws Lot Others better
informed give us their ideas. b
About = fortnfOhf a1o tha n;.hx