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

money to build narrow roads, espe cially
where the annual rainfall is so great as it
is here. The people and not the commits
sioners should determine the width of the
highways.
The proposition also establishes a
minimum and maximum limit of cost of
construction. provisions which seem to us
both unnecessary and unwise. 1t ought
simply to require the work to be done by
contract, in accordance with proper
specifications and under the supervision
Of competent engineer, contracts to be
let to the lowest thoroughly responsible
bidders, upon the execution by them of
good and sufficient bonds, the commits
sioners reserYing the right to reject any
or all bids. Competition would keep the
cost within reasonable limits"
Furthermore, some of the best law
yers in the county express the opinion
that city property is not subject to tax
alton for the improvement of county
roads. We do not believe that the law
will be so construed by the supreme
court, but there is certainly doubt on
the subject which only definite ruling
will dispel. All property should pay
its proportion of the cost of road con-
struction. City lots in Fairhaven and
New Whatcom will not materially in
crease in value until the settlement
and development of the rich country
districts is stimulated by the construc-
ton of first-class roads. The cities can
afford to bear the major part of the
burden of this expense in order to OBJ
tain the country trade, but they can
not afford to open any wider the doors
of extravaganza and political corrup-
don. We regard it as of the utmost
importance thai the annual
limits of expenditures for road
purposes be clearly designated and that
the commissioners be debarred from
letting contracts in excess of 100000
per year. This sum would permit the
construction of forty to fifty miles of
first-class highways during the first
year, which would be ample to meet
present requirements, and greatly in
crease the volume of local trade.
There is no necessity for more rapid
construction than that, and certainly
the people cannot afford to pay forty
to fifty thousand dollars interest on an
idle sum while the roads are being
built. And it is of the greatest import
ance that all new roads established be
sixty feet in width, and that they be
ditched on each side, turnpiked, and
well graveled wherever possible. The
Over-zealous road advocate says, "1eave
all that to the discretion of the commits
missioners." We say not. 1t is due to
the people that all these things be
nominated in the bond.u 1t is the
only way to provide a reasonable guar
anty of honest and judicious expendi-
lures. We do not doubt that much
might be safely trusted TO the present
board, but we have no knowledge what
ever as to their successors, and it must
be apparent to every person who gives
the matter the attention that il merits
that 100000 or more in the treasury,
without strings on it, available
for road expenditure, would be a very
strong temptation to chicanery in the
election of commissioners. The people
should be extremely careful lest they
place too much reliance upon good in
tentions. For centuries the people of
Christian lands have been taught to
believe that "hell is paved with good
intentions" and certainly the impress
sion is quite general that the result is
far from satisfactory to the population.
Surely something more substantial is
needed in Whatcom county.