Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-10
Pertinent to the Issue.

EDITOR LEADER: The writer re-
Gently had occasion to visit Siletz, and
his attention was called particularly to
half-mile of corduroy road on the Stan
ton hill. For about seven and one half
miles we labored along through the
mud from one to two feet deep. And /
assure you 1T was relief as we'll as a
| rest to the weary team while we were
passing over this one-half mile of road.
This road was laid Of puncheon about
feet long 2 inches thick and from to
inches wide split out post fashion. 1t
was laid in the mud, and during the
winter; and with all the heavy traffic
that has passed over it during the win
ter and spring it is in perfect condition
and is good smooth road that will last
several years. 1t occurs to me that
Commissioner Stanton has gotten on
the right track OF building roads as this
is the only piece of road in Lincoln
| County that is passable during the
winter season. In some of the valley
counties the county courts have bought
rock crushers and are breeding good
roads. In Tillamook and Clatsop
counties the county courts have
bought portable saw-mills and, as we
are reliably informed, are furnishing
their own lumber for roads and bridges
at cost of from 81 to $5 per 1000 feet.
Lincoln County is not able to make
rock roads, but there is plenty of tim
ber along all the county roads to fur
nish plenty of lumber for all her roads
and bridges. Take for instance the
roads from Toledo to Siletz; or from
, Newport to the Siletz bay-there is
, plenty OF timber along these roads to
build the bridges and plank the roads
If necessary. Lincoln County is now
paying $40 per 1000 feet for her bridge
2 lumber. We believe the difference in
{ the present price of bridge lumber and
e what the county could furnish her own
lumber for would pay for a portable saw
q mill in one year. Possibly the County
1 Court is better advised in this matter
}. than your writer but it does seem to me
l. that something should be done toward
4 bettering the condition OF our county
|. roads. We have railroad passin1
q through our county from east to west
- yet it is we'll known fact that from
n the first of October to the first of Ma.
|. the farmer has to have four horses t
q haul ten bushels of potatoes to the rail
|. road. Under present conditions ther
d is no encouragement for the farmer t
d put in crop unless he can feed it al
8. to his cattle. In our sister count,
" Tillamook, where there are fiftee
ID creameries in operation, they have goo
plank roads and the farmers can hat
"a their milk to market every day in tn
!. year. Aud as a result, good bottor
u. lands are worth from 500 to $500 pt
;H acre. We have the same land and th
:. same climate and a railroad and harbo
ca both Of which they have not, and y,
=. our bottom lands are not worth or
10 fourth the cash value that the far
~. lands in Tillamook are worth. IL
In road problem in Lincoln county is il
nv deed serious question, and every ci,
zen should give it his earnest attention
1t does not seem TO be the question
OF how the roads should be worked, as Il
vi lack Of Interest. The people shou
ey organize road clubs and cooperate wi,
~ the county court and see that som
ITO thing is done before another season
- rain Is upon US. b. F. JONES.
|