The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-04-20
BETTER
STATE
ROADS
Leading to the Tnstitu.
ti0nS
Cooperation Between State
and County Officials

During the coming summer there
win be extensive road building by the
state on the highways leading tothe
different state institutions
The last legislature appropriated an
unexpended balance Of about $500 and
the further sum of S2500 to be ex.
pended in the building of permanent
roads between the state institutions
located in this section. BY the terms
Of the act making the appropriation.
II is provided that the construction
of these roads shall be made under
the supervision Of the prison superin.
tendent and by convict labor. The
law authorizes the superintendent Of
the penitentiary to employ a eompe-
tent road engineer at a monthly sal
airy of $50 TO direct the work, and also
10 provide for such additional guards
as will be necessary.
Technically there appears to be a
slight conflict in the wording OF the
law. The act under which the appro-
prlation is made provides that the
prison superintendent shall purchase
all the necessary machinery aud tools
that are needed to do the work and at
the same time directs that the ap-
propriation will not be available for
such purposes unless the county OF
Marion furnish the gravel for the
roads and also the necessary tools.
a question has arisen as to whether
the law intends that the state or the
county shall buy all OF the tools and
machinery. This question has been
submitted to Attorney General Craw-
ford for an opinion but IL Is under
stood that he will interpret the law
as II was intended by the trainers.
That Is tothe effect that the county Of
Marion is 20 purchase such OF the
tools and machinery as is necessary
| to deliver the gravel TO the authOri.
ties of the state, With the settle
ment OF this question and the arrival
of god weather work will be inaugu.
rated.
Governor Chamberlain and Superin'
tendent James. OF the state penitenti.
AIRY are known 10 favor the plan for
improving the condition of the roads
between the city the reform and
deaf mute schools and the asylum
farm. and II was for this purpose that
the appropriation was made.
In carrying out It's plans in this re.
gard. the state authorities will have
the cordial support and cooperation
OF the Marion county commissioners
court. we ere very desirous OF see
ing the reform school road improved,
and will gladly unite with the state In
any effort in that direction. The re
form school road is one OF the most
travelled highways leading into this
city. and besides is the only road that
leads 10 the state reformatory and
connects with other state buildings.
with the appropriation that has been
made. the staet win be able with an
economical expenditure of funds, 10
complete the road to the reform
school and have a balance left TO be
gin work on the asylum road
Judge Scott further stated that
while the court is very busy with It's
own labors and It's plan OF permanent
road building in different sections of
the county IL is only too glad to con
tribute It's aid To any movement that
has for It's end an improved condition
OF the highways in any part of the
county Tho people OF the Jefferson
neighborhood he said. have contrib
uted about $500 In labor towards com
pleting the work By the county on the
Salem.Jefferson road.
The county has begun work OF grad
ing the roads branching at the state
fair grounds. preparatory 20 doing
some permanent improving II is the
purpose OF the county 10 build about
four miles OF good gravel rosd on the
highway leading from Salem to
Brooks. and about two miles of the
same kind OF road on the Silverton
route. However, the extent OF these
improvements will depend on the
amount of labor that is contributed by
the residents OF those sections. for
with the limited amount OF funds il
has with which 20 prosecute this work