The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-10-05
OUR WAGON ROAD PROJECT.
Legislators Reply to the Ga
zette'S Circular Letter-Many
Favorable Opinions.

i avn oO1S op1lAAOA1S'
| Two weeks ago the GAZETTE contained an
editlrial advocating an appropriation of
! $40. .0G0 by the next legislature, to be used
i'll constructing wagon road across the
mountains from the present end of the Ore
gon Pacific track, to connect with road on
the other side of the divide leading to
j Prnevilie. Marked copies of the paper
were sent to members OF the legislature liv
ing in Polk, Lincoln, Marion, Linn, Lane
and Benton counties, on this side of the
mountains, also to members in the counties
of Lake, Klamath, Harvey, Malheur,
Grant and Crook, in Eastern Oregon. To
each of these legislators was also mailed
appropriating sufficient money for the pur-
pose in question would receive their support
in the next legislative assembly. Many of
these gentlemen have replied already and
generally speaking, they favor the plan,
but seem impressed with the idea that
wagon road appropriation bills are uncon.
stitutional and cite the case of Maxwell vs.
Tillamook county, reported in the Goth Or
gon, in support of their theory. In an
other column of this issue the GAZETTE has
endeavored to show that the case cited has
reference only to local roads land not to
those whose operation would prove a benefit
to large portion of the state. By united
effort the part of members from the
counties mentioned, the bill can be passed.
| There have been few measures brought up
| in the legislature Of this state whose pas
sag proved of such vast benefit to Eastern
Oregon as would the one in question. Such
| bill will be constitutional because the road
| would vitality effect the interests of at least
one hundred thousand people, besides mil.
lions of dollars worth of property.
THE GAZETTE's CIRCULAR LETTER.
| Corvallis, Oregon, Sept. %, 1894.
DEAR SIR:-Under separate cover We
mail you today marked copy of the GA
zETrE calling attention to plan for connect
ing Eastern Oregon with the Oregon Pacific
railroad by wagon road. This is matter
of vital importance to all sections of the
state. Before proceeding further we would
be pleased to know whether bill appropri-
ating sufficient sum for the purpose in
question, would receive your support in the
next legislature. An early reply will
oblige, Yours truly,
| GAZETTE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
By B. w. johnson, Manager.
Hon. W. H. Hobson, of Stayton, Linn
county, writes of the plan as follows:
| The building of a wagon road connect
Eastern Oregon with the D. P. r. +. would
be capital thing and relieve those people
of much trouble i'll reaching San Francisco or
Portland, beside bringing much revenue to
our state for the entire line would soon be
peoped and mills would be built and
ranches opened up I doubt the con-
stitutionalty of the state appropriating
funds for such an enterprise. l am, as an
individual, in favor of building such a road
but imagine the legislature can't appropri.
ate.
| Senator Tolbert Carter, of Wells, writes
| In answer to your first question, L an
swer yes; but for the state to undertake
either plan, that will take more time for
consideration and thought than have g wen
the matter so far, and will further say that
so far as I am concerned, I don't intend to
forget the howl that was sent up during the
last canvass of retrenchment! retrenchment!
from every precinct and every throat in two
counties, but in conclusion, will add that
intend doing as think best for both peo
pie and state without the fear of punish
ment or hope of reward, both in the case
under consideration, and all others that
may be brought up for action.
Hon. Chas. 8. Moores, of Salem, would
like to assist, but feels that he could not
support the measure, as he believes it to be
unconstitutional. He writes
The enterprise to which you refer is one
of great importance to the valley counties,
as we'll as to Eastern Oregon, and I would
be glad TO assist in any measure looking to-
wards its consummation, but as l under
stand it, the legislature has no power to
make the appropriation you suggest. The
question was passed upon by the supreme
court in the cose of ]. W. Maxwell Vs.
Tillamook county, which is reported in Goth
Oregon. For this reason could not sup.
port any appropriation for building the pro-
posed wagon road, notwithstanding its great
importance.
Hon. A. J. Johnson, of Scio, speaks
rather favorabIy. He says:
must continue to refuse pledging myself
to support or oppose any measure. but will
say that would like very much to see
some such project completed, and alter
thoroughly investigating the proposition, L
would do what thought to be for the best
interests of the state at large. as well as for
my constituents.
Hon. s. L. Moorehead, of junction City,
admits the advantages, but believes times
are too hard. He says:
While 1 am free to admit the many ad-
vantages to be derived from a connecting