Amador ledger., 1902-02-21
THE ROAD QUESTION.


Amador Lumber Company's mill in
the eastern section of the county.
The company is willing to bear a
large proportion of the cost of con-
structing this thoroughfare. and ap-
peals to the county to furnish the
rest. Curiously, this very reason
able appeal has raised great hue
and cry in opposition. 1t is de-
nounced as an unheard-of proposi-
ton; as unjust, because it proposes
to use the public money to promote
the business interests of corpora
tion; that this corporation is com
posed of wealthy individuals who are
well able to bear the entire expense;
that from the early days of Amador
county the lumber men have been
compelled to shoulder the entire bur-
den of road making to get their
product to market, and therefore
the same policy should be continued
indefinitely.
1t seems to US that all these posi-
tions are untenable, and inapplicable
to the conditions existing in this
county to-day. We are not sufficient
ly acquainted with the conditions ex-
isting in the country through which
the proposed new road must pass,
and hence we are not prepared to say
whether or not the circumstances
warrant the county in shouldering
the expense of several miles of ad-
ditional roadway. But we have no
hesitation in saying that if this road
is necessary to the development of
the lumber industry in heavily
timbered country, and that the i'm
proved transportation facilities to
be thus created will alone enable
our local lumber men to compete
with outsiders for the trade of the
mineral belt, the assistance asked
is but small matter compared with
the advantages to be gained.
1t is the business of the county to
provide roads. The county cannot
in justice, either in whole or in part,
shift that duty upon private parties.
To say that few private persons or
a corporation will be benefited by
the new road is not solid objection.
The same might be said of every new
road that has ever been opened at
public expense. Indeed, that is the
very object of road building-that t
private or corporate enterprises may
be encouraged, and individuals bene
fitted. In proportion as this result
is secured the county is also bene-
fitted by the increase of taxable
wealth. And that is the only way
in which the county, as a county,
can receive benefit from roads. AS
an abstract proposition, a county as
such has no use for roads. The only
use it can make of them is to keep
them in repair; and this is done for
individual convenience and profit.
1t makes no difference so far as
the principle is concerned whether
the individuals be few or many; in
their aggregate capacity they are
termed the public.
To revert to the experience of early
days is not in order Then the local
millmen monopolized the local mar
ket. To bring lumber from the out
side was out of the question. The
profits of the business might then
justify the sawmill owners in making
roads at their own expense. They
had to do this or lose the trade, for
the county was too poor in taxable
property to build the highways re-
quired. In those piping times of
private road building the county was
q network of tollroads. Every few
miles the traveller would run up
against a toll gate. These are
times to be remembered, but not to
be patterned after.
One point more. 1t is said that
the stockholders of the lumber COM
pany seeking this new outlet, are
wealthy, and able to bear the entire
cost. Admitting this to be true,
what of it? They pay taxes accord
ing to the value of their taxable
property. If they have more than
others, they are called upon to pay
more, not only for roads but for all
other purposes of government. To
force them to bear, in order to do
business in our midst, additional
burdens not contemplated by law is
a system of oppression under which
no community can hope to thrive.
We repeat, we are not advocating
the granting of the lumber COM
pany's request, because we are rot
sufficiently acquainted with the tim
ber region involved to form fairly
correct estimate of the possibilities
of trade that might be opened up
thereby. AS rule, the Ledger is