Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-11-11
TO CHANGE SYSTEM.


present system of working the public
highways is altogether inadequate and
will take steps in the near future look
ing to the inauguration of the contract
system in lieu of the present method
of paying road poll tax with labor. The
law governing the county commits
sioners in respect to road contracts is
set forth in Sec. 1145 of the road laws,
and reads that they shall let out by
contract the improvement of highways,
and construction and repair of bridges
or other adjuncts to highways, when
the amount of work to be done by con-
tract exceeds one hundred dollars:
Provided, that at least twenty-five per
cent. of the fund collected in any road
district must be expended within the
district in which such fund was col
lected.
Section 1149 says: The county com
missioners shall at least three weeks
prior to the regular meeting in July,
when necessary, cause notice to be
published is some newspaper, published
in the county, for sealed proposals to
be received by said board for keeping
in repair and improving the public roads
and highways in all districts, set apart
as contract road districts; and each
proposal or bid, so submitted to the
board, shall be accompanied by bond
conditional for the faithful performance
of the duties of the contract, which
may be entered into by and between
the party making the proposal, or bid,
and the board of county commissioners,
in sum not less than double the
amount of the bid for the improvement
and keeping in repair of the roads and
highways within the district proposed,
the bond to be secured by two or more
sureties who shall justify in the same
form and manner as is required on
bonds of county officers. Provided,
that all bidders shall be residents of
the road district which they contract
for At the time stated in the notice,
the board of county commissioners
shall open and examine the proposals,
or bids, and award to the lowest and
best bidder the contract for not less
than two nor more than three years
for the respective contract road dis
tricts; Provided further, that the
board shall reserve the power to reject
any and all bids.
This system we are told is being
operated with marked success in vari-
GUS counties throughout the state,
notably in Nez Perez and Shoshone
counties. The necessary steps will be
taken at the proper time looking tc
the consumation of this plan.
Another plan for road reform in this
region which meets with general ap-
proval, and which it is hoped will meet
with the approval of the county com
missioners. lies in changing the bound
ries of road district 20, by Incorporate
ing that portion of it lying between the
30 imile tree-its western terminus
and Red Horse into districts 10 and q
respectively, making Elk City the ter
minus, and designating the section OF
road between Orogrande and Elk City
as district 20.
1t is urged and with good show o.
logic, we think. that the added length
produced for districts 10 and "a, will b,
much more than neutralized by per
hitting Elk City to expend all her roae
taxes on district 10, which is the mos
costly district to maintain, Orogrand,
being amply able TO take care of tina
section between it and Elk City. am,
district "a viii receive ample supper
from Dixie and the Siegel creek section
of the Elk City mining district. I