Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-01-20
ROAD REFORM PRoCEEDlNGs.
Action Of the Committee on a County
Supervisor.

in Salem on Saturday, January 18th,
Eber L4Fore, Geo. 5. Downing, VIM.
Savage, Geo. CrOisan, aud w. J. Irwin
were appointed a committee to act in
council with the county court on the
appointment Of some able man whose
duty It shall be to superintend the ex-
penditures Of county road tax in build
log pc manent roads.
These gentlemen, including w. @.
Westscott acting for Mr. irwin, held q
meeting at the county court room Fri
day, Mr.. Owning acting as chairman
aud Mr.. LAHORE secretary. Previous
t. this the committee called upon
Judge Hubbard and stated their object.
He conveyed the information that the
commissioner court had adjourned
until the February term and that the
committee should get together and
formulate their own plan and present
it to the commissioners court in writ
ing.
This advice was acted upon and the
result OF the cornmittee's work was the
drafting of the following communica.
rion to be 6lel with the county clerk
fIr presentation TO the court at its next
20 sim.
1--WE the committee, appointed by
the Marion county ro,d convention
held at the court house OIL Jan. 18th,
1894, at Salem, Oregon, to act In council
With the county court on the appoint.
uent Of some able man whose duty 1t
'hal be to superintend the expenditure
# county road funds, do hereby request
y ur honorable body to appoint Com
missioner J. NJ. Watson as roadmaster
# Mar on county"
Before action was taken In the mat
ter Of filing the above, Judge Hubbard
was waited upon by the committee and
informed Of their purpose. That
'tfi;d cOincided with the request in
every particular ami also expressed
himself that two roadmasters were
real needed to rye In a county AZ
large as Marion, and that the two COM
mi'sioners should be delegated to per
form such dutis.
Ths committee deemed his suggestion
\ practical one aud will make IL known
1t the next meeting Of the road con
vention on the second Saturday in Feb
ruary.
Mr. Westacott stated that it had
heen suggested to him to ask the com
mis'oners' court to appropriate Ger
tain sum Of money for the improvement
and mdcadan zing OF road W here the
most funds Wi be contributed by the
land owners alongside. In this man ner
u competition and strife would follow
bel ween the districts and in time the
change la the condition Of the count,
highways would be greately noticed
Not only Salem but the immediate
vicinity where such work would be ac.
compiished would reap the benefi,. |
Take the road extending from Salem
TO Silverton; the county commissioners
could appropriate certain SUN for its |
Improvement providing the owners of |
property adjoining would also subscrIbe
a sum sufficient to insure the work be-
Ing thorough and perm sneut. The
rotin Istsr could dev ,te his time aud
attention To that aud with 1t change all |
roads leading to 1t would neces. s.arily
undergo beneficial changes. Every
farmer and land owner In It's vicinity
would feel n pride In it's development
knowing that he could travel to mar
Set or bis postoffice with the greatest
'tse AS during the rainy season.
Judge Hubbard, aud also Comm,s.
'loner J. VI. Watson, who was present
It this time, strongly favored the pur
'hasiug ofa rOck-cru4her by the cIulty.
l. would furnish employment to all the
arners aud Others In the districts
vnere used, during the time Of year
Vhen all work on the farm Is practical.
Y suipen led. II would also be at
eason when the Improvement of the
highways could be thoroughly dons,
Tue road laws OF this state place the
u upervision OF county roads under the
ounty court, but provision is attached -.
hat la counties Of 10, 900 lnhabitaut a or .
lnre the court may appoint roadmas- ;
sr To carry out the Road work and it
an alsn prescribe his salary. Another
ec'ion has prUvlslo "that in counties
aVing "A roadmaster, the money shall
q expended uuder his supervision, and r
u road shalt hereafter be located uutiI $
report AS To the advisabillty or prao- Il
eAolllIy of such proposed road is tirst \
lade aud Il ed by such rnadmaster.n
Section 10 of au act passed at the last 4
'sslon Of the legislature "fnr the lay .
u out or improving county roads, and =
le levying of assessment upon ada. =
'nt lands benefited, to create fund T
pay the same" reads as follows, :,
All work on said improvement shall
done under the supervision Of the
admaster OF the county or other com.
tent person Of the county appointed
The county court. Before entering