The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-01-04
NOR7HWES1BREVl7IES
Evidence OF Steady Growth
and Enterprise.
ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST
From All Parts of Oregon. Washing ton.
Idaho, Montana aud British CO.
iumbis-w sshington.

From All Psrts Of Oregon. washington.
Idaho, Montana sud British CO.
iumbis-wa shington.
The state road commission has Just
closed = session ut which was fully
discussed the doubts entertained of the
legality Of the appropriation for the
state wagon road across the Cascade
mountains. During the past summer
the commission spent but q small part
OF the sum appropriated. the effort be.
ing made TO investigate the routes a.
cheaply ~ possible in order TO keep
the bulk intact for construction pur.
poses. ~ the members Of the commits.
sion realized the meagreness Of the ap.
preparation when the length Of the road
10 be constructed was considered. The
result Of the examination Of the differ.
ent routes showed that to construct
even = good four.foot trail across the
Cascade division would cost from t25..
600 to SIS. 200, according to the route
selected. while only SEQ. 600 was appro.
priated for that purpose; while the
same conditions prevailed upon the
other divisions. The commission be.
ing in doubt whether the law would al
low il 20 construct . four-foot trail
which had been urged-referred the
question to the attorney general. who
furnished an opinion that the law con-
teinplated the construction Of Z WAGON
road. and 10 build 4 trial would be TO
spend the money appropriated without
authority Of law. At the recent session
Commissioner Watson offered q resolu-
ton 20 report back TO the Legislature,
furnishing full details Of the best route
the cost Of trail and Of wagon road.
bu, owing TO opposition the resolution
WAS withdrawn. the other members de.
string 70 continue the investigation
further. II WAS then agreed TO aooep,
the opinion Of the attorney general al
final regarding the necessity for con.
siructinH u wagon road under the bill
For the purpose Of sscertaining whether
the cheapest kind Of q wagon road
could be built with the appropriation,
maximum grade. for the pupross
of making estimates only, WAS agreed
TO at 20 per cent. the width ut sever
feet. without grubbing. trees to be Gu,
Of level with the road. and bridging
only where streams could not be fordet
in ordinary low water. Two Of thu
members express themselves As opposet
10 such a road. but agreed TO hgur
on IL 90 satisfy the third member
So that. should il be found possible =
build such u road. Il IL not certain
that the majority would agree to g
ahead. THE trouble is, said a mem
Der Of the commission, that the or
iginal law Of three years ago provides
for a road, and the members OF tn
iirst commission construed that :
mean 3 trail OF wagon road. as tn
circumstances seemed TO warran,
The old commission in recommendin
the last legislature TO appropr,ai
certain sums, made Its estimates ev'
IDENTIFY on the trail or road. but III
legislature, while not MATERIAL
changing the sums asked for. change
!, the law 20 read wagon road.
Generally in public Improvements
il understood the sum appropriate
by the governgmcnt is to be expcnde
on the work. whether completing IL {
not, and relying upon another sppr'
). priation 70 complete the work. Tho'
b. who have studied the Cascade ros
@ law, however. agree that the sums a.
d propristed were intended to compile
n the road. and there is prevailin
/. sentiment in the present commissie
/. that the money should be spent on
!. IL a safe wagon road can be built al
the object OF the law honestly enforc'
The question Of a selection OF pa
has been purposely deferred by q
commission until after these 9th
)" matters are disposed Of, but II is
l,eved will come up for final action
81 the next meeting.
"a The Tacoma school board has und
A. consideration the reduction OF
r. prcsent school year from nine to {
}" months. in order to lessen the exper
" and put the district ON sound hns
:" c,al basis for the next year. A spec
e. election 10 to be held for the purp(
OK Of validating the indebtedness
" tss. 900.
The recent storm on Puget sound v
-. = the most severs that has taken place
Of many years The Port Townsend a
-, Victoria shipping experienced consid
Of able damage.
~, Oregon.
In ri, .u,,. h,t,l at Random In neA