The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17
PROUD OF HER ROADS.
Low the State Government HELPS


How the State Government Helps to
Ma AXE Them.
j. Hannum Jones, the editor Of tbe
Nooksack Reporter, had a pride in biS
stroy Of the large amount Whatcom county
mad Jud1clously expended in making good
roads, and he ably pointed out the ell
couragement to settlers that Weu-kept
roads always assured. His paper on tha
subject read as follows:
The emigrant cares very little about the
roads he leaves behind him; but 1t is a
vital matter to the immigrant to find q
sood road ahead Of him. Even if he finds
road surveyed, planned and its building
agreed upon, the intelligent Immigrant
will consider it an attraction added to the
land he wants to buy; but if the road is al
ready there, it means dollars and cents
added to the useable value of his purchase
If he is man OF family he locates tho
church. the school and the market, and
the character of the roads between his
nome site and these points becomes to him
question of cool elaboration. The land
itSelf-1tS topographic Surroundings-may
incline him faVorably to dicker, but add
quick connection with all these by good
roads ard you inspire his judgment to be-
heve he has found what he is looking for
Washington, if l understand her desire
is not inviting the rags, tags and bob-tails
OF creation to drop down upon her soil
She wants men, prudent men, strong men,
industrious men, reasonably intelligent
men, altogether honest men, to come here
look over her domain and be convinced bv
their own sound judgment that it is a good
state to come to, settle in, rear a family
in, and secure a prosperous, happy life.
One such man is worth dozen shiftless
happy-go-luclSy drones. Why? The one
will add something to the stability he finds
here, while the dozen would only
Now, if we tell the immigrant the
cold truth that he can get a
handsome competency out of forty acres
Of Washington land, according as he
spends his energies to deserve it; CON-
potency moreover greater than he could
possibly get out of one hundred acres in
many other states and at least ten years
sooner, we offer attraction to the push
ing and energetic class of men that will
honor the state, and we at the same time
put q damper on the migratory birds who
would abide with us for q season and leave
us poorer than they found us. But, gen.
tlemen, this very desirable class of i'm
migrants will look sharply at the condi-
ton of your roads.
Speaking in general terms, the legisla-
ton of our state has shown a determined
purpose-since 1895-to make road building
mandatory in small degree, but permiss-
IDLE in the broadcast possible sense. The
state herself is now committed, in a small
measure, to take her share Of this duty
1t must become, and I believe it will, her
defined policy to widen her interest In
proper state roads, and find the money to
build them.
Nineteen of the states of this Union are
already in this upper platform, each one
of which is gradually increasing her an
nual appropriations. Our young Washing
ton will follow suit, because the senti-
ment. of her people is nightly trending
that way. The immigrant can confidently
be told that state participation in road
building is an assured fact in Washington
There are seventeen road laws covering
the needs Of villages, townships and coun-
ties in force in this state, and seven aux
iliary acts partially in force, with a town
ship organization law in embryo and
there Is no square mile in the whole state
that cannot find its way through this mass
of legislation to build the road it wants.
Time will not permit us to note the con-
ditions provided by these laws, but par
tlcular reference is advisable to the acts
of 1898 and 1885.
The Donahoe act, for the first time in
Washington history, permitted progress
ives to take mossbaclxs by their suspend
ers and compel them to go forward. Thank
God. the day is dead when a handful of
nudwumps can check the righteous move
ments of men of mettle; for this law hon
estly explained and decently respected
leaves no room to Cypress or retard them.
Under this wise law Whatcom county.
one of whose representatives I am had
directed me to tell you her graphic story
as an evidence of what can be done by a.
willing people. Obeying the desire Of her
county commissioners, I ask your atten-
ton to a few facts of her road history.
Within the three last years she has con.
structed system Of trunk lines from the
rYYfr
practically makes the whole country tribu-
tary to tide water. Most of these are
completed and all will be, by July next.
The cost of these roads are as follows:
Northwest DIAGONAL. .......,s g. $50
Guloe meridian OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 23,345
Northeast diagonal ....... 2246o
Fairhaven, SaInish and Skagit bor-
oer ........... ....s..................a Z2,35O
Everson-Goshen ............... ....... 1900
Ferndale and Mountain View....... 1000
Whatcom-Lummi .......... ........ 1900
Six bridges ............................ $4,000
At a total cost .$lS7, 3S7
Fifty miles of good roads and durable
bridges traversing thousands Of acres of
the richest lands under the sunlight, with
fifty more miles of extensions, cross roads,
feeders and local links that will be prac-
tically completed two years hence. Thou
sands of twenty, forty, sixty, eighty and
one hundred and sixty acre tracts Of land,
directly accessible to these good roads, are
for sale, bidding the immigrant come and
till.
If he has a passion for fruit, this is the
land he wants. If he wants diversified
farming the land Is waiting for him. If he
wants to build creareries or starch fac
tories. this is the land where he can find
pasture eleven months In the year, and get
200 tons Of potatoes and plenty Of good
water to make prime starch, that will cap
ture the trade OF dozen states. He can