The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-08-02
"AMEND YOUR WHY'S"

Where is the good way" The weep
ing prophet asked this question severs
thousand years ago, in another land. Had
he lived here, he might have wept NOR.
copiously, and Numbered out the CUES
ton with even less hope Of reply. TIL.
genius OF northwestern development
might stand in Yakima county, with on,
foot on the Cascades and the other on the
Columbia divide, and repeat the question
aloud, but he would receive no answer,
save the mocking reply of echo.
: The roads of this country are simpl,
abominable.
We are admittedly the most solid and
promising county in the state and yet on
roads, the very touchstone of sensible.
progressive agricultural community. are
hardly passable, like their administrai-
ors. "By their ways We shall know
them"
What wide-awake, progressive, level.
headed, competent lot they are to be sure
Somewhat vain, like other great men,
they have erected monument to them
selves. That monument is their terms
history of the roads and bridges OF Yak
ina county. And it's a speaking like
ness but it has cost lot of money.
Every man in the county who drives q
wagon or buggy is paying for it. The
wear and tear Of rigs, the blacksmith &
bills, the loss of time, can not be comput-
ed, but they aggregate an enormous sum.
Every acre of land in the county is di
minished in value by the wretched condi-
ton OF the roads. A stranger comes to
look for farm. He is bumped and jolt
ed over few miles Of Yakima roads, and
he is hopelessly disgusted. His nerves
are ratified, and his patience and his very
teeth are shaken out OF him. He finds
some OF our bridges with yawning gaps
in them, and others that cannot be even
reached. He hears OF one that for the
want of small timely outlay was once
swept out, and, when rebuilt after half
year, was barely saved at an expense
five times what it would have cost il at
tended to at the right time.
He drives in different direction and.
IL the springs stand, he comes to another
that has given up all hope of life, and is
leaning in lop-sided. desolate, drunken
dependency over the river. He realizes
that II he comes to the county he has to
drive over these roads almost every day,
and has to take his chances with the
bridges. The natural result is that he l.
discouraged, and does not offer as much
for the farm, or leaves by the next train
One successful farmer from the middle
states, who had heard glowing accounts
OF our country, and came out few week.
ago. sized the situation up exactly when
he said "Yov've fine county, but the
roads are damnable.' The truth OF the
statement must he tile excuse'for its pro-
IA lity.
Take the Mckee road, for instance, over
which almest every visitor to the city
travels to see the artesian wells. What
sort of impression OF the county will an
Intelligent stranger carry away with him
after travelling over that infamous travesty
Of a trail:
Is the intelligence. and energy OF the
farming community Of Yakima going to
sit down supinely and see this state OF
things continue?
Do the road supervisors give bonds for
the proper performance OF their duties?
Has not the screaming farce OF 'The
Road and Bridge Fun" run long enough I?
What are we going to do about il?