The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-15
Proposed Change in State Road
Laws Is Explained.
WILL BENEFIT ENTIRE COUNTY.
Chairman elise, of the Chamber of
Commerce Roads and Highways
Committee. Discusses the Real
Purpose of the Amendment-Ne-
cessity of Systematic Road build
fnS-AgricuItural Interests Aided

Members Of the Chamber of Commerce
VINO attended the meeting of that body
last Wednesday and heard there dis
cussed the various legislative needs of
the county and state, express consider
aole surprise at the attitude assumed By
the farmers In the neighborhood of Kent
as shown by the account of their meeting
In yesterdays Post-Tntelligencer.
The sentiment expressed al the Kent
meeting was directed particularly against
the proposed change in the road laws of
the state which has been discussed and
Endorsed by the Chamber Of Commerce.
The sentiment of the farmers members Of
the Chamber of Commerce believe. arises
wholly from Misrepresentation of the ma
ture of the amendments proposed, and
regret is expressed that no one appears to
have attended the Kent meeting who
could apprise the farmers of the real
object of the chamber
ii. r. elise is chairman of the roads
and highways committee of the chamber.
and under His direction the proposed
change in the law was put in shape.
Mr.. elise is an enthusiastic advocate Of
good road building and has given much
time and study TO the subject At the
last meeting of the chamber he presented
the matter for the consideration of MEM
bers and the legislative delegation which
was IN attendance. In speaking of the
amendment Mr.. elise yesterday said:
Due to Misunderstanding.
1.-The attitude of the farmers at the
Kent meeting is certainly due to a mis-
taken understanding OF the purpose Of
the amendments suggested 1t seems to
have been their idea that the Chamber
of Commerce proposed to take the entire
contribution of the city to the road and
bridge fund and expend II on the city
streets. Nothing could be further from
the real purpose
THE plan of the Chamber of Commerce
Is to amend the law that the road and
bridge fund may be expended in a sys-
tematic way. under the direction of the
county commissioners. For years past
the receipts of this fund have gone into
the making of country roads that have
been OF service to only few people.
and in winter have been of no use at ALL
1t is no part of the new plan to build
streets in Incorporated cities or towns,
but II Is hoped to connect the cities. towns
and villages with one another by sys-
tenn of substantial highways which shall
be maintained In good condition at all
seasons from the road and bridge fund
The farmers of King. county have
complained for years of the difficulty of
getting into Seattle with their produce
For the benefit Of those living east of
Lake Washington, the county built the
ferry boat. which during the past sum
mer proved of greatest convenience to
the farmers. But the ferry boat can
be of little use unless system OF good
roads extends from the eastern landing
to the various towns and farming COM
munities The roads now ordinary
country thoroughfares with steep grades
and the work done on them consists
chiefly in blowing and pilng the dirt in
the center. This may do for dry weather
but with the first heavy rain the road
becomes worse than ever.
Value of Good Roads.
The county should have roads of per
manent value and available for constant
use. 1t IL to effect this that the amend