The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-29


them 70 take lexssS ard turn n = pr3slls
Of the proposed road. R0E ore n Ely
Applied for would De granted The pro
flies wouk5 Jock ike sax teeth TIE law
should prescribe TIE amount % grade AID
curve. He believed 81 building good roads.
Il * xook eae-tnirH CT the land 10 pay for
t. Most farmers. Ike himself mad more
land than they needed or could use.
Mr. Eedgl0n believed n state construc-
ton He did rot believe i possl5is 70 get
a permanent; ard satisfactory road sys-
ten under county supervisors
Classification.
T-rss~ the head Of ''CfaSSifcatfon," Mr..
cheadle ooenea the discussion. He sad
that the experience q the last afty years
had Show that there never Ecaid Dc 3
ge-sd road system. except where me state
has built the main roads The oniy way
20 have good roads Is TO have the state
take he'd. Wherever a road IS built i
should Be a permanent one, Il only four
miles OF road IS hallt IN a year.
Mr. Woods gave an outline OF the New
Jersey Law for stale ssd n building good
roads. a system which. he said. II vas
conceded had proved the best yet adept
60 81 the United States
Mr.. Monoaon also believed in state
control. or al least. state aid
c NJ Andersen thought the greatest
fault IN the present system was the lack
Of intelligent supervision OF the location.
construction and maintenance Of roads.
The present system OF supervision has 10
merit whatever. What IS needed Is 4 man
in charge OF the roads in each county who
has made the subject a study. who knows
the country. ard VINO knows the available
material IN each section. TIE road System
should have an experienced head. lie be-
lieyed in a state system OF highways. with
county roads auxiliary thereto.
Mr. Hart read consular report, show
ing the road system in force in British Co
lumbia. which mas given that province a
system Of roads far superior % our own
and 81 less cost. There the whole work Is
entirely In the hands of the provincial
government, and Is done under the direc-
ton OF engineers: the entire cost being
borne by the province.
Mr. Woods spoke in favor Of the employ
ment Of convict labor in preparation OF
material for roadbuliding-
Mr.. Csips also believed ia some system
OF staH epntrol or state aid. he lived
near he Brstish Columbia line, and had
noticed the much better roads they had
sn tfse other side of the line. II a few set
/ tlers go into the woods in that province
they are speedily furnished with road.
The roads are better and the road taxes
lighter than on this side Of the line. We
should try to arrive at some system or
state roadbullding which would prevent
the dribb.ing away Of the peoples money.
Mr.. Coiner said the question 10 be con-
sdsred wGs, first. how 10 lay out sys-
tenn and how 20 build the best road for
the least money. We can't have good
roads without money. There should be
three kinds Of roads, state, county and
district or laterals. They cannot all De
built at once; but we can start on sys-
tenn and keep at It until we get a good
system of state and county main roads.
County roads should be built by the coun-
~. partly ar the general expense and
partly by the adjoining property. The
Donahue law Is in the right direction,
but not entirely equitable IN its opera tions,
because IL places the whole burden upon
the adjoining property. The farmers want
good roads and are willing TO work for
them. The trouble is with the system,
that everybody shIrks because each ex-
poets the others 10 shirk.
Eugene Way thought that road districts
ought to be created around some central
point. such as a good-sized town, in which
tho farmers traded. The funds for build
Ing roads should be laid on land values
only, because land was the only thing
benefited by the roads.
A delegate suggested that the discus
sion would better be confined to roads
which the people can build and pay for.
He objected 70 state construction under a
could not get around and see all the roads
In the state in two years.
Mayor Wood thought that IL was too
tate in the day 10 think of framing a
comprehensive road law 20 be submitted
TO the coming legislature. ANY such law,
hurrieily prepared. VIII necessarily con-
tain defects which would tend to defeat
the whole movement for good roads. He
suggested that the legislature be request
ell 10 appoint a commission TO frame a
comprehensive road law TO be submitted
two years hence.
Mr.. Monohon advocated his electric rail-
read idea, for the main central highways.
and found a supporter in James Hart.
who pointed out the many advanta ges Of
such roads.
Mayor Wood thought the electric road
was out OF reach for some years to come.
He advocated. however the laying Of steel
plate rails, on which wagon wheels would
track, suggestion which found several
supporters and advocates.
The convention then proceeded 10 the
election OF permanent officers. as follows:
President, w. T. Woods. OF Pierce county:
vice president. J. Hsnuum Jones. OF
Weatcom county; secretary. James Hart,
Of King; and advisory members, Senator
Tayior and Representative Cline.
The executive committee was empow-
cred TO add additional members at their
The discussion Of The various topics was
then resumed. ard continued untH $50
O'Clock, when further recess was taken
until 7.3a.
Evening Session.
The attendance at the evening session
was quite light. The following resolution
was introduced by a select committee:
Your committee on resolutions begs n
recommend the adoption Of the following
Resolved. That Il Is the senss If tho
good roads convention OF the state of
N tsGln&tou. now in session thar the adj
N&orE Board or the g0od roads movement
pttpare 2 memorial 20 be submitted 10
the legislature Of the state Of Washing
ton, az its next session. such memorial -
De Accompanied by proper bHl or hlUs
covering the following general nr0pasf-
lions. ~@iA others that may ne suggested
by said advisory board ali 20 d. carried
out ~ as early date as practfcahI and
IN Sif'3 n tanner rs shah seem best fo-xft.
te3f TIA present system. or rather
lack ~ road system with SIS a3miufgtrz-
Uon through political channels has been
Au entire failure rs evidenced hv rHa
exp H3ifa-e i'm Pierce ard King counties
curing the LAST ten years Of an aCrreeats
or over 8 ll"e0 without srettrtr.z 4n,
Itf1ll1H zst results at al EFopartionate 10
me expenditure.
THAT a general system % roads for tps
state and counties should De devised -
consist - main state roads. county trunk
r1ftls and local roads Is hose location con
stfnrl4on and maintenance SHOULD h. de-
termlBe1 and supervised by an impartial
state lssiOu. and by competent local
com 11lSstuuFsE, engineers and s4por{r
ter3euta aH ta ba selected With reference
to LDe.r 4Ea4tslC 3fl3us 2Ht fidelity
That tHe present system 90 road dis
trtNt assessment ana supervision ana o.
working cat road taxes should oe abau-
THAT She cost OF constructing ana main
t3in.UE state roads bs- borne sn o1fr h,- faa