The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-12-10

Uulluiu6 VI JuC iOdQ, tbOy PdylH6 a
part Of the expense and the county
the balance
THE road law is copy of the
Georgia, California and Missouri laws,
and In these states, wherever it is
enforced, 1t has proven a success and
the people are generally we'll satisfied
with its workings. If this law is not
satisfactory to the farmers, 1t is their
fault and can be altered to suit them
another year.
sit must of course be understood
that IL the law is to be made sue
cess, the appointment of road over
seer must be kept out of politics.
understand that some of the road
overseers were annoyed over letter
Of mine recently published in the pa
per. am very sorry at having hurt
anyone's feelings, but what I said
must have been PRETTY nearly correct
or there would have been no cause
for offense.
There is approximately 100000
acres of agricultural land in Ada
county. The sum of $500, 900 spent
on roads would amount to 1912 per
acre. Say 40 per cent Of that amount
or $1.25 cents, is paid by the AUDITING
property owners, which would be di-
vided into half, or 62R cents on each
side of the road. This amount would
probably be divided among several
different property owners and the
bonds extending over period of 20
years would mean about 3 cents per
acre per annum. thus man owning
10 acres Of land would pay 80 cents
annually plus the interest.
"At the present time it costs a
farmer about 81 to bring load of
hay to the city and he can figure out
how much he would be able to save
by having good roads for paying 80
cents per annum or even dollar or
more, should his assessment amount
to that much. want it distinctly
understood that the automobile peo-
pie have never had and do not have
at the present time, anything to do
or say in this movement. They may
be assisting and trying to get good
roads but they will not receive in
event the election carries, one-tenth
of the benefit derived from good
roads that the farmer will receive.
If road Is good one for an auto
mobile 1t must sure &c good road
for a farmer and for his children to
attend school. There is not man,
woman or child in this country who
can write or explain any fair. honest
and legitimate reason why we should
not have good roads"
/ What material would you say the
roads should be built of in this Sec
ton to be good the year around?"
queried the reporter to whom Mr..
Almond was talking
4 THAT is question yet to be de-
termined,' he replied. 1T is one
which should be carefully considered
and reported on by road experts and
should be of such material that the
expense Of keeping 1t in repair would
be very light, and in fact, it should
need practically no repairs"
4 Following are few of the require
ments for good roads that have been
called to the attention of the reporter
by Mr.. Almond and which were adj
vanced by A. Brown city engineer of
4 Nottingham. England
4 "The surface must have good foot
hold for horses
4 1T must be as noiseless as pos
sible.''
1T must be free from dust in sum-
mer, and free from mud in winter. .
1T must be of such a surface, as
4 will prevent side slip with either mot
or cars or cycles"
i "The surface must stand the traffic
Of the district"
4 Lastly the road must be cheap as
regards to cost or maintenance, or
both"
These are the essential questions
which must be considered in the con-
struction Of roads in this section. !"
stated Mr.. Almond. and every one Is
Of great Importance and no move
should be made for the construction
OF the countv's highways until 1t has
been definitely determined Just what
material will be best for this section
and it's cost per mile must form an
important question as the property
/ owners must not be overtaxed."