The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-29
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/ narrow tires. within q reaSoEah bic time,
1 and also make proyision for a suitable
/ road commission - fornulate and submit
81 the following session 0f the legislature
/ wei considered plans for a complete sts-
TEN OF state county and loe9, !. T -ss
&C r ANDERSON"
A delegate from Slohomish suggested
| that there ought 70 BE- some provision as
| 10 improper use OF the roads in heavy
/ traffie. He told hoeg loggers IN SRohomish
| county had completely destroyed plank
( road built by subscription. by hauling logs
1 over II. until there was not a plank ieit
| unbroken. He thought there ought 70 De
| some provision Of the law 20 protect ROADS
| after being built.
| IN accordance with the suggestion the
| words. "other destructive use" were or
| dered inserted IN the clause referring TO
| the use of wide-tired wagons
| Eugene Way moved an amendment 10
! the resol buttons, referring 10 the cost OF
| constructing state roads. by inserting the
words "land. Irrespective OF improve
ments," instead Of the word properly
DIR. Anderson said there was no neees-
| sity OF making the amendment; Il means
| exactly the sanle as II exists.
Mr. Monohon supported the amendment
| Hart objected He thohght improvements
| ought 10 be taxed as well as the land
| Mr.. coiner said that the proposed amend
ment followed exactly the principle ap-
piled in levying taxes for street grade par-
| poses
Mayor Wood said that he favored the
amendment A road adds precisely the
| same value 10 unimnroved land as II does
10 improved land. He believed the amend
ment a reasonable one The chair sug-
gested that the occupant of the improved
! land would used the road. but the uniin-
| proved land bad no occupant to use IL.
ffeRw
Mr.. WAY supported his amendment with
a general disquisition on the subject OF
| the single tax. He said there were about
twenty single takers in the legislature, in
| Guiding himself He was in favor of good
roads. bat he wanted the tax put on the
right fellow, ard the other single takers
thought as he did
The amendment was adopted. and the
resolution also. The chair stated that as
the advisory committee was TO Increase
its membership a circular should be pre-
pared and sent out TO various parts OF the
state to get a further consensus or opln-
ion on the subject.
Mayor Wood said that the plan proposed
was that which had been adopted in con-
nection with the meeting at Tacoma on
Wednesday Of the convention TO discuss
| proposed legislation. Mayor Wood moved
that the chair appoint committee OF two
In any town In the state to solicit sub
scriptions 70 aid in meeting contingent ex-
| penses of the good roads movement. which
carried. after brief discussion. The seere-
tary was made ex-officio treasurer to re-
ceive funds so collected.
The wheelmen.
The remaining subjects on the pro-
graunue for discussion were taken up.
DR.. Churchill In behalf of the hicyclists,
stated that the wheelmen OF this state
were not only anxious TO have good roads,
but were willing TO contribute towards
that end Those OF this city favored a tax
on bicyclers to go toward improving roads.
The hicvclists could be counted upon 70
do everything in their power TO help the
good cause.
Another representative of the wheeimen
said that every bicycle path was protest
against the present condition OF roads
The wheelmen had been forced 70 build
paths for their own use. when they would
have preferred to contribute the same
amount towards making roads which
could be as well used for wagons as for
bicycles. They were heartily in sympathy
with the good roads movement
G. r. Anderson called attention 10 the
fact that it was thought the people of
Eastern Washington were not very heart
uy in sympathy with the movement. He
believed however. that they could be en-
listed In the matter Mr.. Cline said that
this fact had been demonstrated At sew
| eraI sessions OF the legislature and he
thought that a campaign OF educatlon
would be necessary before their support
could be obtained for any general change
of the road laws. in the direction OF a
broader and better system.
The chair suggested that possibly ton
might be imposed upon the state roads
until the entire cost OF construction was
betrayed Mr. Cline did not think such
A system Of taxation was proper. and that
sfa.F- -Esseh a a
would impose a burden on the users or
the road which would be greater than
| they could bear. He was opposed 10 Il.
Mr.. Way thought that the proposed tax
would De directly opposed 70 the amend
ment just passed 20 the resolution The
tax should be paid by those who receive
the benefits. The benefit Of the road fails
! solely 20 the land. and the land should
pay the tax.
Mr.. McssiIvra was in fun accord with
the proposition that we need good roads,
and that the farmers are the principal
| beneaejaries o. good roads. The same
aEriculturists are the hardest worked and.
poorest paid class IN the community The
| real question is how TO enable the farmer
| 20 get his products transported 10 market.
However. the roads VIII never be used In
this country % the extent which they
bave fa the past Transportation VIII he
largely by steamboats, and rail he IA
vored the Improvement Of DHwamish
river Ia connection with the Like Wash
inxton canal He would undertake % say
/ that X the existing government appro-
nrtatfon could he properly expended on
that river 20 WOULD 90 away largely with
| the present danger 81 floods. lie askel the
/ members 81 the legislature % 20 liet}e
Glow in the road matter. Toe country has
been suffering from a pauic. We have
| been rockies au5 improFi3eut having ac-
~umulafe8 heavy state. county AMI cstF
fn}ehte7ness sua have ar enormous rate
a taxstsou. based upon an exorbtapt
valuation. The people can stand no more
taxation. He believed IA good r5ads bat
the most pressing need row was for econ-
omv IN every direction, NOT additional *
rease- Douhtea very muca whether the
legislature should pass anv road laws
which wou'i impose amy a5dflonai tax.
Eugene WAY made another single tax
speech. fav1r-uE TIE forfeiture % I'll land
on which taHes sire ROT prowp.iy paid
Mr. C1ina believed that t1e discussion
ought 10 ae confined 20 vaa3s. Toe e2-
( Varfun}ty 20 discuss general legislation
would he at Tacoma Ga Ws8aes98y-
Mr. Conner believed in good roads be-
cause Il vas one % The means by watch
the trend ~ a1'er2r.on from the country
% the toRn sa1l-d ~ c1ecked- In West
eru washington We have been engaged r.
building towns Is IS uaw time 80 eueaar-
age the prod ace r. We aUy largely % Cal
ifcrslz tataEs WAie1 ear De- produced -
home. because ire farmer here cannot Est
his g1ozu~e 90 a3s own market e. cheap
a4 cay people 35s,eE g Thousand niles
sway. The assys Cannot s@ permanent
prosperous anti ze p-e8aeH more taau
we consume. Is 10 s3s alF sus % .sTT
tson. the trog53s Ass been tzat ne have
fHa EFresF e. esrl~r.reea ga EfFsr