Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-02-24
BETTER MUD THAN MIDDLE


of the road bonding proposition, to
which we cheerfully give space i'm our
columns. 1t is perhaps Of little conse-
quence that he is in error in stating
that the editor of the HERALD was
tone of the delegates to the road con-
vention." He was not delegate but,
being ian advocate Of all reasonable
improvements" he attended portion
of the afternoon session as a spectator.
Mr.. Donovan was chosen as a dele
gate but did not attend any portion of
either session. If he had been present
he might understand now why it is
that a very large portion Of those who
were members of the convention" and
favored the roads are opposed to the
loosejointed proposition which the
commissioners ask them to support.
Mr.. Donovan is also in error in at
tributing to the writer or to this paper
the expression of any opinion
to the effect that the amount
asked for by the commissioners is
"extravagant,u We do not so regard
it. On the other hand it appears more
likely that the amount would prove
insufficient to properly build such
roads as are Essential to the develop
ment of the interior of the county"
No one knows better than Mr. Dono-
van that our opposition to this propo-
sition is not born of antagonism to
anything which clearly appears to be
in the line of real improvement 1t is
prompted rather by the firm convic-
ton that If the scheme receives the
approval Of the people at the polls it
will prove to be a stupendous Stun
bling block in the pathway of practical
and permanent progress. The object
sought is worthy of nothing but COM
mendation, but the plan proposed for
its attainment merits only condemna-
ton. If Mr. Donovan was the owner
of a vast tract of land, largely I'M
productive and the development of
which he desired to facilitate by the
construction of system of highways,
he would hardly be likely to mort
gage his property for a large sum for
the ostensible purpose of making such
improvements and then place the
money i'm the hands Of three men to
eXpend according to their own ideas as
regards the width of the highways
and manner, cost and time of con.
1. L
barrel himself and personally attend to
thel disbursements from it he would al
least prescribe precise conditions t.
govern the outlay. He quotes the law
in reference to the deposit of money in
the county treasury and says he sees
mo favored banker in that" Ger
tainly he can not assume that tn,
treasurer would take it home with hin
and put it under his pillow every
night and keep a bull dog and ,
dynamite gun to guard it. He really
cannot doubt for moment tina
favored banks would get it and tina
they would use it for private specua
ton. Assuming, as he argues, tina
there is no probability that the com
missioners, complying with the law
could expend the money in less thar
two years." how many miles of first
class highways might be built with tn
interest which the people would thu
be compelled to pay on capital depos
tied for safe ca keeping wherever tn
bondsmen Of the treasurer might di
rect? Suppose expenditures were t.
be distributed over period of fou
or five years instead Of two
would the people Of the various sec
tons Of the county be any more lilxel,
to demand explicit promises tina
their road be i'm the first section con
structed'? That matter would be
very easy one to regulate. Mr.. Done
van seems to possess some inside in
formation as to the intentions of tn
commissioners, for he says in refer
ence to the width of the proposed high
ways, that "more than three-fourths o
them on the commissioners plans ar
sixty feet wide) and the specification
sketched in the notice of election ar,
amplified." Evidently he has beef
taken into the confidence of the gentle
men and has been privately favore,
with information which should b.
publicly impaired to the people. Their
is no assurance whatever that three
fourths or one-fouth of the roads will
be sixty feet wide. We are inclined T.
think that most of our readers viii
agree with us ON the proposition tina
there should be no state secrets in
matter of this kind. If the law require
that contracts "shall be let to the low