Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-02-20
NO. 18O
STICK IN THE MUD

4
four years ago | walked into Whatcom
county from the south with my blank
cts strapped On my back, because there
was no road or trail passable for horse
rom the Skagit. AT that time the
Belllngham Bay Il British Columbia
lallrOad with about three miles of idle
track was the only railroad i'm the
county. l was prospe citing for another
which has now been built entirely
across the county while two other rail-
roads have been constructed, giving US
eighty-nine miles of operated railroad
where there We're nine three wears ago
This has involved the expenditure of
not less than 81 800, 600, or ten per cent.
OF the valuation Of the county, without
any public aid. During these three
years / have had occasion to traverse
all the principal highways and many
OF the byways Of this county and their
condition today is little better than at
the beginning, with the single excep-
tlon OF the five miles Of plank road
north OF Whatcom. Within the city
limits of New Whatcon and Fairhaven
nearly 100000 has been spent on
streets while the railroad construction
has been going on, but the county
wagonroad, the farmers railroad
which makes farming profitable and
social life possible, has been neglected
As a result we have county with
from 100000 to 100000 acres of the hest
agricultural land in the world, with
possibly 1000 people getting their sup
port from the soil while $1,000 10 Is, 900
are living in the cities and towns. We
nope ma expect great commercial,
mining ana manufacturing future. We
are doing something in each Of these
INES, but the class Of settl rs that we
need in the county from Iowa.
Kansas and the East dislike 10 isolate
their families in districts where travel
is only possible i'm "dead-axeu wagon
at the rate Of three miles per hour. or
less, with mud hub deep. With decent
roads leading TO Lynden, Fendale or
the Bay, creameries could be estab-
llshed and we could stop buying butter
from Minnesota and vegetables from
California.
/ have read the diatribes Of the cranks
who say it will cost $50 600 to build "A
road to the county line, and of the
many anonymous opponents of the road
Dohus VINO have contributed to the
HERALD and Reveille. | have also
read some earnest, thoughtful articles
like that of Capt. Eldridge The main
W
lD per year 10 pay the debt What
does that mean? Tho enormous levy
Of 45-lOO mills additional tax! But
would they be additional? / have lust
picked up my tax bill and find "bridRe
lax, ! 5O-lOO mills;' property high
way, mill,' total 5O-16O mills for
road and bridge purposes In 1891. Near
" 9SO,OOO have been poured into the
mud Of the county without any centra-
lied supervision or plan, but according
20 the individual preferences Of large
number of supervisors and we have 1T
lie To show for the money.
Vote for the bonds and the building
)f the roads at once will cause no in
'rease in the tax because the 2 5-lOO
mills remaining after paying the sink
ng fund Will advance the building Of
)ranch roads more than the total levy
It present With good trunk roads on
he lines proposed by the commission
'rs good crossroads will sOou follow.
: But there are no adequate specifica-
ions say the opponents Of the bonds.
Read the turnpike law Of 1890, i'm con-
lection with the commissioners call,
md see what more you could ask for in
hat line. Making Specifications drawn
m the basis of the law will give GOOD
Dads. "S400, 900 won't build the roads
md bridges planned says another.
Won't? Mr.. Peter Larson, the we'll
lnown contractor, says he would guar
Intee TO build the system for the price
lamed 10 the satisfaction Of picked
ury of citizens.
''The matter has not been consid-
reed" How about the election Of
Dec. 1880, the recent road convention
nd the hundreds Of miles of travel that
he commissioners have taken TO asce
ain the needs OF the county and the
wishes Of the people? The proposition
: fair one, "A feasible one and should
AIRY. No scheme to spend say $4,000
r SlOO,OOO per year will ever secure a
majority vote. The system must cover
he county as this does, treating all
populated parts fairly and means must
e provided TO build the whole system.
hen the commissioners can apply the
unds as rapidly as the work can pro-
erly be planned and staked and this
hey have ample authority TO do. To
rOvide detailed plans and specifica-
ions for every road before its construc-
ion IL authorized would be waste of
money which has wisely been avoided.
"But the bonds won't sell.n Regis
1r, vote, try it and see. With the
henomenal progress made by our rail.
Dads and cities let US do something to
evelop the country and for that pur-
ose vote the bonds that will transform
ur canals and trails into roads that we
an drive over with comfort and with
rofit to city and country alike.
Yours for progres,
J. j. DONOVAN.
Dunlap hats-We advise all gentleman