Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-03-24

building and predicted that within :
less than three years every county in |
Oregon would be carrying on road
work under the plan that is giving
highways that will be as enduring as
those Of the Romans, which are yet,
after 1000 years OF use, smong the best
roads Of Europe. The remainder of
the evening was taken up In general
discussion Of the road question. In
this discussion G. +. Billings, one of
the prominent business men Of Ash
land and one Of the pioneer leaders in
the good roads movement in jackson
comfy make q convincing argument
in favor Of good roads, citing jackson
county's rapid increase In wealth and
population to the condition Of its
roads which now compare we'll with
the best in the state.
Tuesday forenoon was devoted to a
general discussion Of the road ques-
tion in its various phases as a public
utility. Those taking part were DR..
Withycombe, Prof. Hyde, Judge Ryan.
John d. dwell. County Commissioner
j. Patterson, Judge Trenchard, Chas
Meserve, Judge Scott, W. ]. Winner,
NJ. A. Wertz, A. II. Carson, Governor
Geer. @. L. Mangum. P. II. Hsrth,
j. S. Beall, Judge Booth. Many ex.
cellent points were made by the
speakers. The ten minute talk of
Prof. Hyde on 1.-THE Commercial Value
OF the Man Who Knows How" as
applied to road construction was a
most convincing argument in favor of
putting road building into the hands
OF men who know how to build
roads.
The afternoon session OF Tues
day opened with song by the Grants
Pass Mems Quartette and again was
that favorite musical organization Of
Grants Pass given an encore with a
will to which they responded with a
selection. After short business
session of the Oregon Good Roads As.
sooiation, during which resolutions
were passed, thanking the citizens
Of Grants Pass for their part in max
ing the convention success, and the
Southern Pacific Company for grant
ing reduction in faro to those at.
tending the convention, the regular
program was taken up. The first address
was by Judge Ryan Of Oregon City.
Clackamas county was the first county
in Oregon to take up the good roads
work and now has 245 miles OF i'm
proved roads, Of which the milage is
about equal in macadam. plank and
gravel and the Judge said they were
building from seven to IS miles more
each year. Last year $S6, 600 was ex.
pended upon the roads, of which
Sl3. 600 WAS contributions. The Judge
stated that over $1,000 had been
contributed so far this year and that
they expected the amount to reach
$50, 600 for the year The gravel
roads cost an average OF $1,000 pei
mile, the plank roads $l400 and the
macadam $500 per mile The plank
roads were built of 3xl0 inch plank,
right eight feet long laid on 3xlg
stringers placed AZ feet apart. The
road bed is first brought to an even
surface and then the stringers are
embedded level with the surface OF
the ground aud then the planks are
laid on. they resting quite as mucl
on the earth AS on the stringers
They are not spiked down, but are
held in place by earth scraped ovel
their ends, which also enables team,
to go off and on readily and the eartl
prevents the planks be ing ruined by
sun checking at the ends For farm
traffic these planks roads last from /.
to IA years, but last but six to eight
years under heavy traffic. The plank
{
lasted an average of four years longer
by being laid fiat on the ground.
Judge Ryan was much in favor Of
gravel for road building, if all earth
and sand il removed and it il
! screened SO that the coarse rock may
bo put on the bottom and fine on the
surface. Judge Ryan stated that
his county had found steam far
cheaper than horse power for grading
aud was even doing much OF their
plowing by steam power. Traction
thrcshing engines were used. Nc
road grade was permitted to be
above ~ per cent and roads having
heavy grades were relocated and put
on easy grades, but il the adjoining
property holders would not permit
the county to mako the change then
no money was spent on the road thus
forcing the objectors to consent to
the betterment of the grade. Judge
Ryan strongly favored the state
granting counties tho right of eminent
domain so that roads could be forced
ON practicable routes rs are railroads.
Judge RyNn's address dealt with
the practical side Of tho road question
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