Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-10-06
CONVICT
BUILT
ROADS
|1o BE EXTENDED SOUTH
WITH AID FROM COUNTY
|coyernor Chamberlain'S Of
fer Accepted by Marion
Comfy

The business men of Salem are
Edeeply interested not only in the ex-
tsnsion of electric lines into the San
+,om country, but they are vitality
oorcerned that the first-class high
nov now buflt to the state reform
sobool shall be extended to Turner
ord on to the towns south and east.
rbere is no reason why the convict
&built road shall not be extended on
H. Marion, Jefferson, Albany and
$ruoene. and east to Aumsville, Sub
Elimitv. Stayton and Mehama. That
4 HIND of road can be constructed
cheaper than any other, and the con-
vict-built roads are the best in the
state. so far constructed.
The cost to the county need not
be over $4,000 per mile, and the cost
10 the state need not be over that
amount That is the cheapest way
in the world to construct public high
WAYS, the convicts doing the heavy
work and the state and counties
sharing in the other necessary ex-
pepses. When roads can be obtained
so cheaply, they should be built in
all directions.
Governor Chamberlain offer to
extend the convict-built highways on
to Turner. and then still further on
as fast as means can be had to do
the work. if the county will take
charge and keep up the convict-built
road already constructed, is a fair
proposition. If he said the opposite,
that he would not build another
inch until the county did keep in re-
pair what has already been built, no.
body could blame him. He has built
five miles of as fine road as there is
in the county, and it should be put in
repair for the winter and covered
with a coating of crushed rock as
sooL as possible. To all this the
county court expressed themselves
favorably. An order will be made
at this term of court that will result
in that fine highway being kept in
perfect order. and at small expense,
and as soon as possible putting on
fine coating OF crushed rock on the
road. If that Is provided for the
governor says he will extend the
model highway built by the state
and in fact it should be extended TO
Albany and Mehama as fast as pos
sible. The subscription plan Is TOO
slow. Convict work. with county
aid, is the quickest way to secure
good roads.
The editor of The Capital Journal
went before the Marion county COM
missioners' court and explained the
condition of the convict-built road
from this city TO the state reform
school. and the offer of Governor
Chamberlain TO extend that road TO
Turner If the county would assume
the care of the road already built
and OF any road the state may con-
struct with convict labor. The court
seemed very favorable to the propo-
sition, and members of the court
stated some action would be taken.
They seemed to think it ditfcult 10
get the best result unless there was
one person directed TO look after H.
as the road lies in several districts
and il is probable the county road
engineer will be directed to look al
ter it. The commissioners expressed
themselves in favor of cleaning the
road Of rock, repairing low places
and dragging it perfectly smooth
The scarcity OF fuel at Salem com
pels the hauling of nearly all the
cordwood of that part of the country
and there will be heavy trafnc on
that piece OF road all winter.
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