Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-04-10
THE ROAD TO MONTESANO.

l1E HOAO " N1OlN l G01ANO.
The HERALD has hitherto refrained
from expressing an opinion on the pro-
ject to build the Road to Montesano on
the South side of the Chehalis river for
several reasons, the chief OF which was
that it did not believe the scheme worthy
of serious consideration. 1t did not seem
possible that a proposition to cross the
river twice in getting to Montesano from
the Harder, at an expense of from $780,
900 to $50 700 for bridges at the outset,
would require more than cursory in
vestgation to pronounce it anything but
feasible, when a route was open on the
north side-the side upon which the
bulk OF the Harbor's population is locat-
ed.
Mr.. &. w. Brewer published a long
letter in the Daily Bulletin of Tuesday,
in which he estimates the distance be-
tween Cosmopolis and the river opposite
Montesano at about ten miles, and the
population in that distance, including
North River to be $50. Deducting North
River there are, according to Mr.. Brewer
200 people are to be benefited by the
road on that side
The road adopted ON the north side of
the river provided for touching at Cos
mopolis on that side, where ferry was
contemplated that would accommodate
that town and North River travel, which
would have to cross the river anyhow to
reach MontesanO, and could as well do
it at Cosmopolis as farther up. 1t is
doubtful that the letter of Mr.. Brewer
would have received this notice had he
omitted his misstatements as to the con-
ditions on the proposed north side road.
The farmers in the Wynooche Valley
will be surprised to earn that their road
is overfowed with freshets, and that
their bridge is in danger. They have
rested under the impression that the
road out of Montesano across the Wy
noocLe Valley, leading towards Aber-
deem, was the best constructed and best
cared for piece of road in Chehalis coun-
ty, and that the removal of the bridge
to a position next to the railroad bridge
had insured the safety of that structure.
Mr.. Brewer concludes by calling for
any solid reason against opening the
road between Cosmopolis and Mel
bourne. There are none. When the
people over there want the road opened
Aberdeen will help them. But we do
not want to reach MOntesano in that
way. 1t is too costly, but if the local
road is necessary it should be opened.
The relative positions of the two routes
from the Harbor appear to be summed
up about thus Taking Mr.. Browers
statement, the cost of road building
would be about the same on either side,
say $4,000, and the bridge at Montesano
would cost $l3, 800, this being the cost of
the Hoquiam bridge. This would be the
expense to the county for the south side
road, and then it would only extend
from Montesano to Cosmopolis. From
there to the river front of South Aber-
deem, a distance of about 5000 feet,
would require a plank road at least 20
feet wide, about 5000 feet of which would
lie in the town of Cosmopolis and 6 900
feet in Aberdeen. The 2O-foot plank
roadways built in this city cost 81 90 per
iineal foot, so that this road would cost
the county, say $4,000 for road building
and $4,000 for bridge; would cost Cos
mopolis SO 900, and Aberdeen $1,000 and
then terminate across the river from the
main city, unless 500 900 or $50, 900 more
be added for another bridge. The adop-
ton OF the north side route would cost
the county about $1,000, and the city of
Aberdeen about $4,000 to connect its
streets with the road, and there the ex-
pense ends, while the other route would
entail cost OF not less than $3.50 year
to operate the draw of the Montesano
bridge, to which must be added 10 per