Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-08-14


structiOn of Wagon Roads.
The new amendments to the
Road law enacted by the legis-
lature last winter will greatly
simplify the problem of build
wagon roads into the distant
settlements and mining camps
The powers Of the board OF
county commissioners are en-
larged. The new law makes
it obligatory upon them to:
cause to be surveyed, viewed, laid out
recorded opened. and worked such highways
as are necessary for the public convenience.
as in this chapter provided"
And paragraph Six of Sec
ton | provides:
THAT at least twenty five per cent of the
funds collected III any road district, must be
expended in the district In which said funds
have been collected"
Additional paragraphs give
the board power to levy a pro
perty road tax, and to order
and direct overseers specially
in regard to work to be done
on particular roads in their
district. These changes are all
vast Improvements on the old
law. The old district road
funds are abolished, and the
road tax money now makes a
General Road Fund, of which
seventy-fve per cent. is avail
able for the construction of
new roads at the discretion of
the commissioners, as we in
terpret the law. But in the
event that the existing roads
should absorb the entire Gen
eral Road Fund, the commits
sloners are empowered to levy
a special tax for road purposes
as follows:
SECTION 11.-whenever it appears to the
board OF commissioners that the road fund is
or would be unreasonably burdened by the
Yrnr anfn
repair OF any bridge or road they may in their
discretion, cause portion of the aggregate
cost or expense to be paid out of the general
iund OF the county, and they may levy a spe-
cial tax not exceeding onefourth of one per
cent, on the taxable property of the county,
until the amount appropriated in
aid is raised and paid
Under this section the COM
mlssioners can authorise the
construction of a wagon road
into Elk City. and order the
completion ofthe road between
Warrens and Warm Springs at
their next session, if they SO
desire. There is no justice or
reason in individual citizens
building public highways at
their private expense, when
the law provides ways and
means through the medium of
public taxation, distributed
over a term of years.
The citizens of Warrens have
shown their good faith by their
works. Their road is so far
finished that they are now JUS
tilted in petitioning the COM
missioners to advertise for bids
for its completion at the pub
lic expense under the provi-
'ions of section IL. Probably
the highest bid would not ex-
,eed $500 for its completion.
In the Elk City road project
We presume that a different
procedure must be adopted.
Probably a petition, signed by
| fair number of the represent
ltive taxpayers of the county,
praying the board to appoint |
viewers to locate the route and |
20 make an estimate of the |
lost of building a good road
nto Elk City, would be favor
IDLY considered by the board. |
After ascertaining the probable
lost, a subsequent petition
praying the board to authorise
is construction out of the
General County Fund in ac-
'ordance with the provisions
If section IL, might be filed,
md the hoard cou1d tbara,no,,