Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-08-19
GOOD ROADS FOR THE INTERIOR.

To hear some hot-a good-oadS 8ponsters beabor the
public ear one would think Oregon has the most Wretched
public roads in the world,
As matter Of fact Oregon has as good roads for driv
ing in summer and as DaSSabe roads tor hauling IN winter
as any western state we know of fronting on the Pacific
coast
In wntetime our roads are more traveIabIe than way
back east"
and has excellent main roadS-mounain roads, TOO
Better grades have been laid the past year, and many good
fills are being made
he main road through the county, known as the Corvallis
road, is fine driveway
The road over Morrison mountain and the road from Ed
dyviIe TO Blodget are kept in perfect condition
The hoaIr good roads tooter generally goes wrong at
both ends of the line and In the middle,
He conveys the false idea that Oregon has only the most
primitive and Wetched highways.
Next he gets on wrong by conveying the idea that only
by bonding the state and all the counties up to the neck can
good roads be obtained, at
Oregon has had six years filled with fruitesS efforts by
good roads theorists.
There is the wonderful Tute road law, adopted bodily
from the state OF Indiana
i is a system lifted ready made from commonwealth
without mountains, with no arid regonS no coast countless
What legislative brains. wisdom and good roads ro
any wonder there has been never mile OF road built
The old Johnson bill provided for issuing large crops of
bonds, and created many offices,
here is no doubt II would have been better than the
TutIe act-fOr the office holding profession.
good roads law should be initiated that contains three
provisions,
IHHIIWdyo
care OF them with convict labor
H. That the counties build the main county highways and
take care OF them with Care-takerS.
ILL., That the road supervisors build the rest of the roads
to connect with state ard county roads,
few simple principles adhered to in enaCting a site
good roads law will accomplish more than highly cOmpi~
Gated readymade piece Of adopted legislation that is
grated by lazy Legislature and WOuId-be refomerS who
want to make hgh-SaIared positions for themselves.
Gun clubs make game laws and boulevard clubs make
good roads laws at the expense of the farmers,
heSe experts get the salaries and the benefit and the
farmer pays the bills
The time has come for little "gOod roads" egiSIang
TO proceed from the farmers instead Of from the city sex
pertS."
Remember this Expensive road machinery officials, and
then the roads themselves must be paid for-ouSde of
Portland -touthS of it falls on the farmers,
ne experts abored year OF more on the Johnson bill,
and embodied all the best features from other state road
systems
They held conventions and co-operated with the Grange
and labor organizations.
When they got through the Grange legislative committee
fought the Johnson bill to StandS and the farmers hooted
Il off the platform.
Representative Tom Brandon of Linn county shot full of
holes by asking few fool questions that any farmer might
have asked
The Johnson bill got about vote out of ten in the house
OF representatives.
II had passed the senate almost unanimously.
II was at best patchwork OF undgeSted appropriations
ROGUE RIVER HEADS with the lake" states l. Erickson,
IN EllR RIG SPRINGS supervisor southern Oregon