The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-12
40 the Editor of the Astorlnn:

To the Editor of the Astorian:
An editorial In your issue of Feb. 7th,
while pertinent and to the point under
proper conditions. is being used by par
ties as q basis to influence the county
commissioners to act contrary to the
wishes of large majority of the people
in our road district and to foist man on
us for supervisor that we do not want.
The editorial referred to concludes as
follows: "The commissioners should en-
tertain no application or petition that
advocates the appoinement of men who
are not taxpayers In their own districts"
AS before stated. the doctrine is sound
enough but there are exceptions, and our
district is one of them 1t is a we'll recog-
nized proposition that man cannot
carry on two or more businesses widely
different, either of which If properly con-
Quoted would occupy his whole time,
without one or the other being more or
less neglected and suffering in proportion.
For instance, thrifty, well to do farmer
will find enough work on his farm at
which he can profitably spend his time
from early morning until dark, and even
then find plenty left undone. All Of our
best farmers recognize this, and 1t Is
generally with great difficulty that one
having all the qualifications is induced
to accept the office of supervisor. The
reason, is that one dislikes to be con-
nected with any undertaking that he
knows he cannot make satisfactory to
either himself or his neighbors without
pecuniary sacrifice greater than he can
afford. A less conscientious man we do
not want. When otherwise 1t is poor
service and plenty of cost, A light rain
and threatening morning will sometimes
call supervisor to remark ut is too wet
for hay SO we will work on the road"
An hour or too later 1t clears up, and, as
it will not do to let good weather slip by,
they go back to the field. The tempta-
tion to charge the full half day to the
road is not always overcome. Another
thing is that generally and perforce work,
instead of being done in the proper sea-
son, is left until fall and applied just
before the rainy season, the result being
an impossible highway until the middle
of the following summer We have con-
sidered all this and much more, and real
ize that the road problem Is one of the
greatest confronting. farmers. We con-
cluded the best way to do was to select
a competent and honest man who under
stands road making better than any OF
us. and who can devote his whole time
to it and at the proper time of the year.
Forty-six OF us out of possible fifty or
fifty-fve, have signed a petition to have
him appointed. but two or three of the
balance are endeavoring to defeat us with
the aid Of your article and some misrep
resentation. 1t is true our man is not
heavy taxpayer. but he owns some land,
has horse, COW, and is thrifty and prov
ident, and has the qualifications we want
our district embraces the road for which
70 much money has been contributed by
the citizens Of Astoria and we want some
thing TO show them for the money, and
road from Young's bay to Seaside that can
be travelled. We hope the commissioners
win stay with us and that you viii give
this space.
Very Respectfully,
ROAD DISTRICT NO. 5.