Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-02-11
TOWNSHIP ROADS

ganlIauOn mas been lOOkeu uDOn FatHeF
favOrably in Whatcom county, some of
its representatives in the state legisla-
ture having pledged themselves to that
policy before their election. Referring
to this subject, the Spokone Spokes-
man takes the following view, in OPP
position to the measure, which is at
least valuable in showing that the
question is susceptible of strong argu-
ments on both sides:
The objection to the measure is that il
will, II carried out without other laws on
the subject OF much broader scope, give
the state system OF roads but little II
any better than those now existing. The
only way to have good roads is TO build
them upon some definite scheme for
whole county and to force the entire COM
munity to construct them, regardless Of
the views OF few men here or there.
Any one who has had any experience in
municipal affairs can see at a glance the
objections TO bill of this character.
Township roads would result exactly as
munities for the laying out OF additions
TO the original TOWNSHIP has resulted.
Each addition proprietor has a single OBJ
ject in view-the getting OF the greatest
number OF lots out OF a given piece OF
land. With that general instruction to
the surveyor an addition Is laid out. 1t
does not matter II the streets in the new
al . Ill A.
tion of the town. In any Western town
IT is possible to tell the limits of additions
almost invariably by the break in the
line OF the principal streets.
To allow each township TO lay out its
roads without reference to any general
plan for the county would lead to poor
results. There would be crooked roads
because 1t suited the convenience of some
man or men to have the public travel
around their places instead OF across
them. The Importance OF having straight
roads of travel was aptly illustrated by
President j. j. Hill, OF the Great North
erD, when he pointed out that by curving
some five or ten miles out OF direct line
west to reach Spokane. he would be
Obliged for all time to come to haul every
pound Of freight and every passenger by
that roundabo way.
A crooked road means that every man
who travels over it must go inst that
much further than necessary, and that
every pound Of freight hauled to and from
market must be hauled around the same
irregular course. The proper way to
build country roads is TO have the county
surveyed, and a system Of roads prepared
leading to the county seat and principal
stations, and branch roads to less import
ant points until every road in the county
would be part Of one perfect system, and
like water system would all lead to the
great central artery of travel.
But the objection outlined above is only
one Of the objections that can be urged
against township roads. There is an
other as vital. Suppose the people Of
any township refuse to build good roads
through their township, are all their
neighbors In the adjoining townships who
have to pass through their section TO be
made to suffer? Suppose. 10 Illustrate
this objection by another comparison
with cities, the owners OF property along
a given section inst adjoining the bust
ness center should decide they would not
grade the streets through it, are the peo-
pie living still further of to be deprived
of right to go to their business and re-
turn TO their homes because Of this parsi-
monious spirit displayed by their fellow
citizens2
Then again. the roads should be Of the
same general character. The people do
not want roads alone. they want good
roads The township plan would leave
each community free TO build any style OF
roads they desired, with the inevitable
result that each township would spend as
little money as possible on their own
roads and want their neighbors 10 build
the good highways for them.
County roads must be built as streets
are in the city. The county must choose
the best lines Of travel: condemn rights
of-way, when necessary. and build the
best road the nature of the ground will
admit Of No crank or selfish econo-
mist must be allowed to stand in the
way OF the people. 1t is the good OF
sne "noie community that is sought, and
the principle is that all are benefited by
public improvements.
Inc cities and towns are Interested In
having good roads leading to them, and
as they VIII benefit by the Improvement,
they should pay their proportion of the
cost Under the township plan they
would escape entirely. 1t would be a
serious expense to the townships. and
some. owing to the nature Of the soil.
would be taxed more than their fair pro-
portion. Let the whole county pay for
the Improvements, and then the cost
would be but trifle for each taxpayer.
The value Of property would be enor-
mously increased by the building OF rood
roads: the comfort OF the farmers en-.
HANGED, and their Improvement not only
materially, but socially and intellectually
greatly advanced. The money could b,
secured on lMeniY-xear hands at low In