Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1906-05-10
GOOD ROADS.
Sound Reasoning on the Road
Situation In This County.

The legislature Of Idaho in 1906
passed u good roads law, for the
purpose Of permitting the inhabi.
tants OF such territory as may be
organized into good roads road
district. to bond such district for q
sum not to exceed % per cent oil
the total valuation OF same, for
the purpose of constructing good
roads.
The formation of good roads road
districts under the laws might be
beneficial in wealthy and populous
states, where local conditions are not
as they are here; but in this county
under present conditions such a
movement would mean bankruptcy
to such districts as might under
take to issue bonds and attempt
to construct good roads with the
facilities or lack of facilities at
hand. A good deal has been said
about "macadamized" roads; but
when such a state as Iowa has not
to exceed one percent of such roads
and a state official of that state
says that to have Is per cent of
the main travelled roads OF that
state macadamized would be to
realize the "most ambitious dream
Of those especially interested in
good roads," it is out of the ques-
ton for Idaho county to think of
having macadamized roads at all.
About one third of a mile of
macadamized street work in the
county seat, it is said, cost twelve
thousand dollars. It may be said
the roads and lanes would not need
to be 80 wide; true but even if thew
were only one third as wide and
one third as deep the coat per mile
would then be four thousand dol.
lars. In the agitation for goods
roads the people Of Idaho county
should count the cost.
II the assesable property Of our
were evenly distributed
throughout the forty-eight road
districts of the county there would
be in each Of such districts about
$50, 10000 of taxable property.
The most expensive roads to main
tain are usually those in the road
districts where there is little tax
able property. Let Us say the coun-
ty was formed into good roads road
districts and that these districts
bond up to the limit; this would
permit the road districts to issue |
bonds to the amount of three quar-
ters of million dollars.
With this sum Of $3.50, 900 about
800 miles of macadamized roads
could be built provided such roads
could be built in this county for
s225O per mile. AS a matter of
act such roads cannot be built in
his county for several times that
mount per mile. Admitting that
$50 miles of such road could be
'nilt, thereafter hundreds Of miles
emain untouched, and an annual
evy would be necessary if it were
'ossible to make such under the
aw. These bonds for $3.50, 600
would sell we will assume for 5 per
ent and would run 90 years. $75,.
100 annually would need to be
aised by taxation on account of
hese bonds for the purpose Of meet.
ng interest, S37. 500, and to pro-
ide a sinking fund of $37, 800.
No account has been taken of the
eighborhood .unpleasantness' that
'ould result because every farmer
as not macadamized road run.
ing by his farm. just what roads
hould be macadamized would be
o small matter to determine to
1e satisfaction of all parties. 1t
very evident from these consid.
rations that to think of macadam.
ling the roads of Idaho county is
lie fancy, and far less expensive ,
ethods must be considered. In ,
ncient Rome and in China where
illions OF the people were obliged
work the roads, permanent high
avs were constructed centuries I
20, some of which are in good con. |
tion today. There, we are told the !
always proper are from eight 10 .
teen feet wide, only; and are ]
instructed SO that the center of a
e road is several inches higher 3
an the sides. Idaho county is as q
rye as some States, and the road I
lestion Is problem with our q
unity commissioners. 9
There are few, if any gravel beds '
sand banks in the county where O
CHI material is available and can
used without enormous expense. q
I'd in counties not a fourth as q
rye as this and where gravel and a
nd can be had and used with lit h
. cost, comparatively, how many e
lies Of gravel roads have been j,
nit? In road making there are =
veral principles Which must be q
I'm in mind. Good drainage. is $,
9 of the first requisites in road q
aking. The principal of John a
acadam hence the name Una. h
Il Nve.s