The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-01-08
A Plan for Better Roads.

Ed. JOURNAL The Importance and
desirability of good roads is topic of
frequent discussion in the papers of
the day. Yet few, if any suggest
feasible method of attaining the desir-
| ed object. Not with even hope OF
solving the problem do / venture to
suggest plan of operation, but rather
with the hope of diverting the atten-
ton from the desirability of the OBJ
ject, to some practical way of achiev-
ing the desired end and the hope that
some more practical mind may unfold
a better plan.
The first things to be considered are
the difficulties il the way of accom-
plishing the object The first obstacle
to be encountered is the cost of the
undertaking, which by the way is a
large one. But this cost, unlike many
other improvements, need not impose
any great burden upon the people, or
involve the county or state in large
bonded Indebtedness, for the reason
that every community can furnish all
| the material and labor necessary to
construct good roads within its own
limits and no money need be sent
away or borrowed
Any tax imposed for this purpose
will, if rightly applied, be quickly re-
turned, in most instances, to the very
same persons who paid the tax, and
the improvement in business will
amply compensate for the outlay
/ There are few persons who would not
willingly, in the course OF year, de-
vote few days extra work or contrib
ute few dollars worth of material. for
this purpose.
| But the greatest obstacle to be over
come is the jealousy of the people.
Good roads cannot be made in all
parts of the county in the same year
and some persons and localities must
be more and sooner benefited than
others. A county like Mason could
not we'll make more than Is or 20
miles of good road in any one year,
hence it would be several years before
all parts of the county could be given
good roads so that all would reap the
benefits.
Again it would be necessary that
the several roads should converge at
a certain point. Shelton being the
County seat, chief market and place
of ingress would naturally be that
center. This at once creates feeling
of envy at the thought that it would
receive the lions share Of the benefits.
This is to limited extent true, but
Just in proportion to the extent of its
benefits would it be compelled tc con-
tribute to the cost OF the construction.
Therefore this thought should not for
a momeht stand in the way of the
enterprise.
Now to the proposition.
Let the County Commissioners levy
a general tax sufficient to make a
stated number of miles of complete
road each year. Let them have sur
veyed and establish system of roads
penetrating all chief localities to be
known as Special County roads of say
an aggregate length of 100 or 125
miles. Let the work of completing
this system go ON till the whole is
finished.
After this whole system has been
definitely located and a standard
width, grade and incline established
for the construction of the same, let
the people of any locality on the line,
go to work in any manner they may
choose to adopt and construct one mile
or more of said road adjacent to them
according to the standard adopted.
Then let the County Commissioners
as soon as the taxes aforesaid are avail
able appropriate the same to the yari-
Gus localities in proportion to the
amount of work done by local enter
prise, After any part of the road has
been thoroughly constructed and put
in condition for travel let the road
district in which it lies be charged
with the duty of keeping it in repair,
which need not be great If none but
wide tired wagons are allowed to travel
on it.
Now, ye grangers, nimrods, cyclers
and ink singers give us your opinion
or better plan or forever hold your
peace in regard to good roads.
I. w. WOODS.