Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-08-19
COST OF POOR ROADS

the state Good Roads Association.
said:
The president of the national
good roads congress recently made
the statement that the extra cost of
hauling over bad roads, compared
with good roads amounted annually
in the United States to $250,OOO,OOO,
this is true it will, at a conservative
estimate, amount to 100000 an
nually the state of Washington.
This is a heavy tribute to bad roads.
an enormous annual tax, paid on ac-
count of dust and mud, two prime
causes of poor roads.
This amount does not cover all
the extra cost on account of poor
roads. Team haul is not all the use
to which roads are put.
In railroad transportation about
80 per cent of the revenue in this
state is in the haul of freight, the bal
ance from service. The extra cost of
haul givenis freight haul only. Rail
roads are constructed primarily for
freight haul, Itcosts on an average
O.4795 of a cent per ton per mile for
the movement cost of this haul.
TO cheaper this cost the Great
Northern and the Northern Pacific
railways united to build the Spokane
! q A. q
100000 from Spokane to Portland,
and such expenditure is regarded as
the acme of railroad constructor. Yet
at most such expenditure can result
in the reduction of only about a mill
Der ton per mile.
IF the railroads can profitably
spend $5O,OO0,00O on $50 miles of
road to cheaper the haul mill per
ton per mile, how much can the
state afford to spend for good
wagon roads to save / 5 cents per ton
per mile? If the ) cts. per ton per
mile extra cost makes 100000 an
nually, then we can afford to spend
the sum on which this amount would
pay interest or say about 100000
000 and thus be gamer on the added
enjoyment Of passenger travel by
whatever conveyance used, besides
the increased land values and other
benefits.
There are three classes of roads in
81,
roads, built entirely by the state, I'M
der charge of the highway commits
sioners; state-aid roads, built in the
same manner, in which the state and
county each pays half the cost, and
county roads, built by county commits
sioners and paid for by the county
road tax.
State roads are designed to confi
meet distinctly separate communities,
and will be used principally for pc. s.
senger traffic, except a short local
freight haul. State aid roads are To-
cal roads, which may become a part
of the road system and which may be
! iSGu DIS al OBJECT lcSSOu III iOlO DullQ-
ing. County roads constitute, the vast
road mileage II the state, estimated
at $4,000 miles.
The state good roads, association
is not intended to foster ANY particu-
lar class of road building. but is for
| the purpose of promoting the cause
of good roads of whatever class, and
by agitation and education promote
! this great movement
Controversies have arisen as to
| existing laws governing road con-
struction, and in order to gather in
! formation and formulate better laws,
/ legislative committee has been ap-
pointed by the Good Roads Associa-
ton, one member from each county
in the state. This Committee is to re-
port at the next convention to be
held at Walla Walla in the latter
part of November 1t is hoped the
work of the committee may result in
more united effort in the great
cause of good roads.
But we are already making good
progress This year marks an epoch
in good road construction in the state
of Washington. greater mileage Of
state roads and state-aid roads will
be built than during the preceding
years all put together. The county
commissioners of this state are doing
more and better work than ever be-
fore. Better methods of construction
are being followed and a greater
mileage constructed than in any pre-
vious year.
Il have been asked to give some
specific suggestions as to road build
ing am not an authority on this
subject There are and will be many
i classes OF roads in Washington.
In the most populous counties
/ and leading out of the Drincina1 cities