The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-30

The convention OF citizens interested In
good roads vas productive OF some good
results Il has brough; out clearly the
difficulties 70 be- contended with. and
especially the frank admission that the
present syssem IL worse than none, be-
cause Il results in cost without making
roads.
There we're three types represented IN
fhe discussion. those who admitted the
reed Of roads. but who had no idea how 10
get them: those who wanted good roads.
but dsd not Ike 10 risk the cost. and those
who saw objections to every method pro-
posed.
The last we're nearest being right, but
the roads viii never be built II that type
OF citizen ehoaid prevail 10 system can
be cevise1 which VII not have some OBJ
jections. TIE chief objections 10 good
roads are that they cannot al be con-
strucssd a. once. they cannot pass close
90 every farm house door. and they cost
money.
Admitting these three objections 70 be
fnsupsrable. the next best thing Is TO find
a wa around them, with the utmost adj
vantage 70 the greatest area with the
least possible expense. Roads do not yield
a revenue. and they cannot be sold for
cash. ike farm produce. Their henefit
20 the county and The citizen Is indirect.
difrusef and lasting. Afr. Woods. OF sum
ner, who was elected president OF a per-
raanent association 80 promote good roads.
gave a good Illustration or this. he said
that the amount % taxes which II would
rsqulra to nund good roads was consider
ably less than the ''mpd tax and grade
tax which the farmers paid az present.
The Stuck district, for example, consists
OF 1000 acres and markets 2 DO tons. with
roads In the pre- ~eEt condition * cost not
less than 80. go annually to haul that crop
70 market with good stone roads the
cost would hs less than $4,000.
An annual loss 20 a district Of 1000 acres
amounting 10 sec 900. besides tho wear and
tear on animals and the loss OF time. forms
an Indirect tax Of considerably more than
a road tax would amount 10.
afr. Monohon's suggestion THAT e main
an excellent one This is always the ease
or cleared lands, where the co1nty road Is
usually Hrst struck out by following easy
grades. In timber land. such as that Of
Western Washington. this Is not always
dons. because & IS difficult 70 determine
the contour without careful survey. and
because the roads have usually followed
in The rat made by log roads, whore grade
Was OF less consequence than short direct
cuts 70 level or water.
How roads should De buiit IL OF less I'M
mediate interest than the system by
which they shall be laid cat and the
means devised BY which they shsg be paid
f0r. Mr.. Hart has some good IDEAS on the
general subject. but tho main question ls
not the employment OF competent man.
The law cannot insure this s. will fol-
low. II the general system Formulated lnlo
laws Is a good one.
The conclusion 20 be drawn from the
speeches Of ;hoNs mantfestiag the best
practical knowledge OF the subject Is that
the state should supervise tia work. a.
vialng the state iEtn districts. eentcrlnx
a. The most convenient marketing points.
and that tie cost should Re divided boz
tween the state and enc property along the
line hack % fairly uniform depth. II
would - more convenient and economical
70 DO this thaa 90 divide me cost between
state. county and abGtteTs. provision
saould also he made by which farmers
could form districts suhor3loa:e 90 the
main road districts. where sher; spsrs
could be BAIT - connect With the state
roads. TAa cost - these would be no more
than the e0st TO aNutjers for tAclr proper
tier 81 the tx for mala roads This pro-
vision weu,d give farmers wiling 20
avail themselves 81 e the bennett os
roads without waiting uatfl ia entlro Eys-
tenn oF state hisheays had been completed
The o. Jest - she convention may zoe -
entirely accomplished thls session. bat
share = 70 reason Why y iaw should not
s.e prepared ara put ssto sura legislative
shape tAas no expense sAa1I ha iacarrca
under & unta sas present Delinquency in
taxes Is reduced 20 a hxes percentaxa.
We ooght perhaps. 90 80 slowly. bat 4, Is
no use waiting sor times go be So rood thst
the cost Vii n0' fora a. spprecisbls al
digsoa "a sse rats - tsxaeon.
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