The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-25

An Admirable system of HIGHWAYS
Their Many Advantages.

DcdAttSs sept 1870.
To the Editor: Being a firm believer in
the value Of good highways / want TO
call attention 10 the county of Whatcou
as an exemplincation Of what is now go
ing on in that county. In company with
a Seattle business man. we have Just
completed quite a tour in that county As
all roads formerly led to Rome. so do the
improved roads in Whatcom county lead
to the Bellingham bay towns. Using them
as a center. the roads radiate in all direc-
tons, their ultimate termini being the
borders Of the county. The systems of
road building adopted in this county are
not expensive ones, but are of a charac-
ter to fully meet the requirements OF the
people now and for many years 10 come
The most OF the roads so far have been
built of plank we'll supported and able TO
sustain the heavy loads TO which they
are subjected. One road about complet-
ed IS a splendid example OF what can be
done in this country with gravel at a rea-
sonable cost. We noticed on all the roads
We travelled that the builders had planked
them only wide enough for one truck, but
frequent turnouts were provided In most
places, however, the roadbed was general
~ graded wide enough TO allow an easy
passage OF vehicles. / am not positive
how many miles OF these improved high
ways are now completed but something
like forty to fifty miles.
highways Will do for any community
Farms are being cleared up. new houses
and Improvements are 10 be seen from
any of these roads, showing that already
good effects are being worked out.
Leaving Bellingham bay in the morn
ing one meets team after team loaded
with the varied products Of the farm
reminding one Of the agricultural districts
Of the East. The markets of Whatcom
and Fairhaven are well supplied with
fruit, vegetables and meats brought In
fresh and at early hours over these new
highways. What must formerly have
been a trip 10 be dreaded by a farmer is
now a pleasure. and a relief from the
labor of his farm. The young men ind
a ride of ten II fifteen miles on their
wheels after a days work simply recre-
alton.
It strikes one as odd that any one
should object 10 these improvements, still
this character of citizens are TO be
found. 1t is claimed that even the rank
or these roads. even though he may
oppose their building. We were told that
a supreme Judge of Washington refused
20 pay his special tax for building one of
these roads. which is certainly bad ex-
ample for one so high in authority.
One great advantage these roads have
brought to the farmer Is the ability to
clear UP his land and market much of
his cedar that would otherwise be burned
Single bolts can now be hauled for miles
and find a ready market at the mills
One mill man said that a teamster who
supplied MIN with bolts hauled with one
team over two cords of bolts at a load
a half cord would be a big load on the
ordinary earth roads.
Not only from a practical standpoint
are these roads valuable, but as well from
the standpoint Of pleasure. Carriage
driving is now luxury that is brought
within the reach of many, and will grow
Even editors ride in carriages In that
county.
4 ride from lie Wis TO the Skasit river is
one that brings sense Of pleasure to the
dullest mind. FRANK h. COLE.