The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-09-12
NUMBER Two
ANSWERED
". j. IrgaIls Tells About That County
Road and Its Opening.

Chadwell, Sept. 6--CEdtor Astorian.)-
In your issue of Sept the honorable
supervisor OF read district No. . seems
to feel aggrieved, and rushes into print
TO air himself and get a little notor!ety,
ard he has no; been very particular about
getting his information. Therefore, much
or his communication is untrue and mis-
leading.
Now. with a view to advancing the in
terests OF roads in general. and correct
inc misstatemcnts and to show the AMI
mostly Of the honorable supervisor Of dis.
irict NJ. ?. venture this reply.
In the first place, was not one Of the
victims alluded TO. and was not the author
of the communication OF August "a re-
ferred TO. But knowing the condition Of
the road in district No. 2, and also other
districts and knowing that the super
visor OF said district. as well as other
supervisors was openly violating the hw
by leaving the road in dangerous con-
ditiun. | have this TO say: Now section
& Of the road laws OF tine state of Oregon.
reads thus:
The supervisors OF roads shall open or
cause TO be opened. all public roads which
may have been or may hereafter be laid
out and established according to the law,
in any part Of his road district. and shall
keep the same in good repair"
Now. does this law mean what It says,
or is It null and void and WAS it placed on
the statutes for fun, TO be violated with
lmpunity by such men as the honorable
supervisor Of road district No. 2 because
he wants 70 please Old Man West? /
think not think the law means what
II says, and no one will venture a contra
diction. In my humble opinion. the laws
want remodellng. our main need Is n
competent and energetic road and bridge
superintendent elected by the people, and
paid a fair salary; whose business II
shall be 10 compel supervisors 10 comply
with the law, or fine them and turn them
out Of office. Then, and not till then, will
q suffering public get some benefit from
their money paid out in taxes. The laws
are defective. Our present county court
have evinced a disposition to try and
remedy this evil, in a measure, and have
done more in that line than their pre-
decessors, but thus far their efforts have
been practically fruitless
In the older states every town has q
superintendent, and they expend more
money yearly in many country towns
than Clatsop county has spent during
her existence. So much for the law. Now
TO answer the allegations Of the honor
able supervisor.
| will say, in reference 10 the CASUAL
ties at the time Of the accident, the lady
was somewhat bruised, and the little boy
showed the bruises plainly on his face
a week after. saw al Of the partie,
within one hour after the accident and
can say that could not detect any sign
Of the effect Of liquid refreshments.
But presume II the parties did indulge
in any way they paid for It, and It IS
not improbable that had this inslnuatoi
been present and been invited, he nigh
have Joined in the indulgence; for have
known many In my time, that we're con.
tinually bowling about liquid refresh
rnents" who were always ready to TAX,
drink at other peoples expense, bur
never put up themselves
second-The honorable supervisor Of
district No. 2 says he mas been DRIVING
horses for 60 years and has yet to Iearr
that a road that is wide enough for tive