Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-04-02
COUNTY ROAD BUILDING


The subject of county road building
is engaging quite as much attention i'm
Oregon as it is i'm Washington and in
that state as well as in this propositions
to bond all real and personal property,
whether within the limit of incorpOr-
ated cities or not, for road purposes,
finds little favor with the people, es-
pecially in the absence of wise statutory
provisions not only limiting the amount
of such Indebtedness, but carefully reg
ulating the letting Of contracts and
methods Of expenditure. In some por-
tons Of the east a system Of road con-
struction is i'm vogue similar to that
governing street improvements in the
cities in this state and it must be adj
mitted that it possesses some most excel
lent features, which are outlined in an
article contributed to a recent number
of the Portland Oregonian, from which
the following is quoted:
During a recent visit to one of the
Middle states | was struck with the eX-
cellence Of their county roads, and in
quired somewhat into their methods Of
construction, and found that they had
state enactment, whereby a majority Of
the landowners on a county road might
petition the county court for the i'm
provement Of that road, whereupon view
ers were sent over the road to estimate
the benefits accruing to property con-
tiguous to il. The land for one mile and
a half on each side was taxed to pay for
the improvements. This tax was as
sessed against the land as other taxes; Of
course that which lay nearest the road,
being most benefited, bore the heaviest
portion Of the expense. The tax became
first mortgage upon the land, and was
paid in eight annual installments. The
county advances the money for their ,on-
struction, and issues bonds bearing six
per cent. interest; these bonds are placed
upon the market, and, being the very best
OF securities, are eagerly taken by in
vestors. The counties are generally lin
tied in the amount Of bonds issued to
Sl00OC0, not more than that amount of
bonds being allowed on the market from
any one county at any one time. The
cost OF construction averaged about 5000
per mile, including bridges, which were
invariably built in most substantial
manner, usually of iron, with very solid
stone abutments. The width Of the road
bed was from twelve TO fifteen feet, and
was raised about two feet above the com
mon level, In the following manner;
First, by abont one foot of earth taken
from each side Of the road; on this is
placed ten inches Of coarse gravel and on
top of this three inches Of fine gravel.
The road is a little browning in the
center, to shed the water off into the
bitches on each side. These roads have
proved of great benefit to the farmers
along their line, as full loads can be
drawn along them at any time Of the
year.
Lands situated along these roads sell
much more readily and bring higher
prices than those rot so favorably
situated; the advance in price
covering two or three times oyer the
amount Of assessment for the construc-
tion of the road. They have proved very
durable, and are constantly increasing I'm
favor. A drive over them at my season
OF the year is a delight. Would not such
a method be practicable in Oregon. es-
pecially in the more thickly settled por-
tions Of our valley?"
In a new state like this il would
hardly be wise to limit the amount of
road bonds from any one county to
100000. With such provisions for Sc
curity as the plan insures, it would be
safe enough in a county like this, for
instance, to issue bonds for four or five
times that amount. This feature ofthe
plan is very properly predicated upon
the old maxim of juris prudence that
+" he who takes benefit should bear the
burden" The chief difficulty to con-
tend with in the operation of such a
law in such new country as this would
be to induce the holders of large tracts
of unimproved land to petition for
roads, but the argument that the high
ways would increase the value of their
property far beyond the proportion of
the expenditure which they would be
called upon to meet would probably be
in most instances to over
come the objection. The plan is GER
tainly worthy of consideration.
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81 shall order no more goods from |