Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-05-16
GOOD ROADS.
A High-CIass Highway Consid-
cred a Good Investment.

In the last issue of the Pacific
Homestead, T. B. Williamson, of
Oak Grove, Benton county, con-
trlbuted an article on the "road
question: We reproduce the ar
ticle as follows: l
The subject of good roads has
become the paramount issue and
is being agitated throughout the
farming districts. The rural peo.
pie are beginning to realize the
fact that it pays to have its high
ways properly built and main
tained. In considering this SUBJ
|ject we sometimes hear the ques-
ton, Do good roads pay? Let US
ask, Do bad roads pay? Does it
pay the farmer who has kept at
home large amount of his oats,
wheat, potatoes, and when the
market quotations are high to lose
sale of his products simply be-
cause the roads are in such con-
dition that it is impossible for him
to get his product to market?
Does it pay TOR the extra wear
and tear en- team, harness and
vehicle? Does it pay for the ex-
ira time and trouble taken in
freiehting products over poor
roads? These are facts to be con-
sidered. In many communities
farm property is depreciating in
value on account of the road be-
ing almost impossible for several
months of the year. That these
conditions do exist none will deny;
but how 10 better them is the
lquestion of the hour.
! We have many men of many
minds and it is as noticeable in
road work as many other things.
One has only to compare the work
Iof different road districts to sub
stantiate this fact. Those who
have to furnish the money do not
object to contributing their hard
earned money to build permanent
roads; but what they do object to
is to be heavily taxed FOR road
purposes and then see their mon
ley spent for work that in many
leases is worse than thrown away.
: Many questions arise in consid-
eripg system of road improve
ment but the most important one
is: How shall the funds be raised
for conducting the work
f Very few farmers feel able tc
carry the whole burden of per
manent road building and how
!, shall the emergency be met? The
! press has done much towards
bringing the subject before the
! public, while other agencies have
! been at work until the movement
! is beginning to find expression il
= legislation by the states and WI
find many of them making an
/ nual appropriations for road build
J ling.
I'd We can never have good road
v until we have a uniform system
J. of road building. A most excel
n lent system has been adopted b,
one state, which places the roa,
,. improvement under the supervis
.e ion of the state engineer and sur
! veyor. When better roads ar
h desired petition-is presented t
isl the board of supervisors by th
property owners along who's
premises the highway passes
The supervisor in turn petition
! ! the state engineer who afte
= e satisfactory investigation; draw
:. from the fund appropriated b
= the state for the work. Half th
expense is borne by the state, 5
as per cent by the county and 15pe
: cent by the property owners alon
% whose premises the road sha
. pass.
= Aside from the conveniene
= and comfort to be derived froi
8 8. good roads, there is also the fa'
: tor of economy.
Permanent road building is
common enterprise and is SO ia
- reaching that we can hardly est
:. = mate its merits. It is a wei
&c known fact that the value Of fan
- land is greatly enhanced whe'
- the roads are we'll cared for. TT
= rural mail carrier has come
:, = stay and he needs good roads