The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-01-16
WEDNESDAY, JAN. Is, 1907.
COUNTY ROAD MATTERS.

One of the most difficult problems IN
county government aft airs Ia that re.
lating to public highways. 1t Is a
perpetual source of worry to boards
OF county commissioners; it Is FREE
Quently the subject Of disc ~atisfaction
aud. complaint on the part OF taxpay-
ers. The combined wisdom OF twenty
territorial and state legislatures has
failed to supply a system Of road con-
struction and management that is
worth what II costs.
Under the present road law the su-
pervisors are appointed by the board
Of commissioners, the latter in many
cases knowing absolutely nothing as
to the a%ualifc atone OF the appointee.
The appointment for each district Is
generally made upon the recommends
ton Of representative citizens OF that
district, and II the appointee is . fail.
ure IS a'road supervisor-if he lacks
the knowledge, industry and other
qualifications necessary in that posi-
tion-those who are dissatisfied with
the work should blame the parties who
recommended him for appointment.
Millions of dollars have been ex-
pended upon county roads in Mon.
tana, but in many parts of the state
there is very little to show for the
enormous outlay. For road work and
supplies during the year 1905, the ag.
gregate expenditures Of oil the u
ties amounted to the large sum OF
1919, 797, and their expenditures for
bridges during the same period were
cell, 4S2. For that year alone the cost
of public roads and bridges in Mon
taua exceeded half q million dollars.
Did the people get full value for the
money thus expended?
1t is the general belief that road
work in many Of the counties costs a
bills are approved by the road super.
visors, and upon that recommend alton
are generally allowed in full by the
county commissioners-the latter hav.
ing no personal knowledge as to the
work alleged to have been performed,
or the value Of 1t. 1t is impossible
for the commissioners Of such q coun.
~ as Chouteau, with public roads az.
gregating probably 5000 miles in
length, to acquire personal knowledge
concerning all these public highways.
Their action in most road matters is
largely determined by Information re-
ceived from others, which may oc'
casionally be misleading aud calcu'
lated TO cause satisfaction and
trouble.
According to recent advices from
Helena, members of the tenth assembly
are being urged to create q state high
way commission. for the purpose OF
solving the county road problem.
The River Press is not advised as tC
the scope or details Of the proposition
but If it contemplates y new state oflic,
whose incumbent shall have supervis
DRY control over the public highway.
of the state, he will surely have u jot
impossible of accomplishment.
In discussing this county road prob
lem with the River Press, an old.tim,
resident of Chouteau county. who i,
familiar with county affairs, suggested
q system which commends itself TO thi:
newspaper as feasible, and which ha.
points of merit hal should commend
it to the consideration of Montau,
Law makers. His plan is explained
in brief in this outline:
All matters relating to county road
in each district should be under III,
control Of residents of that district
Each county should be divided into
road districts, and % prevent cOnfu
sion it might be we'll % make thei,
bounds aries correspond with those 0
the school districts. The management
Of roads in each district should folio,
the course Of procedure prevailing il
school matters. There should be
board of three road trustees electe,
by the residents Of each district, who's
powers should be similar &c those O
school trustees. They should be au
thorized to appoint road supervisor
and, II necessary, some of his assist
ants. All claims for road work shOull
be audited by the trustees, who shout,
sign . warrant drawn therefor upOl
the fund of their district, no warrau
to be drawn ia excess of the money il
that fund.
The revenue for road purpose
should be provided in part by . gen
ersl road fund levy, 70 be apportione,
among the districts according to tn
amount Of their taxable property. Il
addition to this revenue from q gen
eral tax, the trustees Of each distric
should have power to make q specia
tax levy-as is now done for schoo
district purposes-to meet any OK
penditure considered necessary, req
souable limit to such special levy be
ing made.
Under the plan as above outlined
the residents of each road distric
would get the improvements for whicI
they we're willing to pay. They woul,
be familiar with local conditions. an,
would know what work was necessary