Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-02-05
OBJECTS 70 THE CHANGE.
RowE CREEK, Jan. 29th.

tax for coyote bounty, haveattract-
ed the attention of all the voters
and taxpayers in this most south
ern end Of Gillian county. From
Cor. in the GLOBE we see that we
are not the only ones who condemn
the action of our county court
on these matters. From Maxwell
Ramsby, formerly assessor of Clack-
imas county, we learn the follow
ing interesting facts:
Clackimas county years ago con-
solidated their road districts into
two road districts, collected the
road poll tax in cash and appoint
ed two supervisors, paying them 80
per day TO oversee the work. The
result was, the money was all ex-
pended in short time and the
roads near and about towns only
were worked and put in condition,
the balance Of the county roads be-
ing entirely neglected. The dis
gust Of the people was shown at
the next election of county officers,
Although all we're nominated, not
one Of the old officials was reelected.
We can not help but think our
county court is going to meet with
the same experience. 1t will be
impossible for roads to receive
proper attention in county this
size by two supervisors, and good
ness knows our taxes are high
enough without creating two new
offices at the expense Of us taxpay-
ers. AS no one seems to know
anything about the new regulations
the taxpayers would like for our
county Judge, or anyone of the
board, to explain by answering the
following questions in the columns
of the GLOBE:
When and by whom is this new
established road poll tax ($2) to
be collected? How is the money
to be expended over the three hun
dred miles, more or less, of county
roads? Is it an equal portion to
every mile Of county road, or is
each precinct to receive the full
amount Of money collected for road
purposes in such precinct, for the
benefit Of roads therein.
Are the two supervisors expect
ed to work these 300 miles of old
roads and build new roads besides,
with their two working crews, or
are they to hire crews for every
presinct in the spring of every
year, when roads should be worked,
and put in condition for travel2
How and by what means are the
two supervisors to repair and build
roads after the road money is ex-
pended before the roads have all
been worked or built; or when
washouts occur. caused by the an
nual visits of waterspouts and
heavy rains.
Our old road districts as they
were, numbering 20. were even too
large for the amount Of people liv-
ing therein, especially when water
spouts visited district in several
places at once, and we can't see
how our county court can expect
to have the roads repaired and put
in condition promptly by only two
supervisors in the county.
These regular washouts were the
cause of the people petitioning the
county court to establish new road
districts, thereby making them
smaller as the county settled up,
SO as to be able to repair roads
promptly and build new roads. If
the two supervisors are to hire
crews for every precinct for all
times. then we think the appoint
ing of the two supervisors will only
be an extra expense to the taxpay-
ers of this county.
The county roads of Gillian
county are in far better shape and
condition now than many roads in
other counties. Our roads. handled
under the old system. with the as
sistance Of two road machines, can,
we believe, be built and kept in
shape with good deal less expense
to the taxpayers than under the
new regulations.
Commissioner Clymer spoke Of
the county court intending to make
the road poll tax 81 less and col
lect ~ in cash instead, and have
the several supervisors hire their
crews. 1t seems to us the county
court should have tried this first.
The sheriff could collect the 81 road
tax while collecting other taxes,
then the county clerk could notify
the several supervisors Of the
amount collected for their districts
and the supervisors could draw by
checks Oh the county treasurer un-
til their share he used up.
There is no doubt that the super
visor can get more work done by
hiring his own crew Of men. II