Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-05-25
JEROME HIGHWAY DISTRICT
Better be Safe than Sorry"


object VIII often defeat the purpose by
causing the seeker to take course that
on mature elaboration he might have
avoided. There probably is not a citi-
zen of Idaho, if he take pride in his
state, but who favors the movement
toward good roads. 1t is not reform.
1t is simply keeping apace with modern
progress. A study of this question will
show that legislatures of different
states have laid out different paths
leading to the object. Some of them
have proven rough, some are too new
to prove their worth, while still others
have been blocked by the higher courts
as entirely unreliable and of too devious
windings. These paths have been en-
tered upon without sufficient study of
the equipment required for the Journey
And now it has become local question
one of the most vital we have thus
far been called to meet.
1t is unfair when two men, or two
communities, differ on any matter for
either side to declare the other a
knocker, or and obstructionist, or a
fool. We taxpayers of the North Side
Tract are too closely allied in all that
pertains to a community's welfare and
advancement to stoop to such childish
tactics. Instead, we must respect and
seek the views from every direction
that we may dig out the worthwhile
kernel from the chaff. 1t is with the
declaration that good roads are the
proper thing, are what we eventually
must have, and are what we will get
that this article is prefaced. And
further, it is written with due respect
and admiration for the promoters of a
Jerome Highway District under Senate
Bill 100. But, also, it is written after
months of conscientious and painstak-
ing study on the subject of taxation,
and upon as deep a study of every
point of the measure from its inception
to the present time. 1t treats only OF
the method of attainment while in hear.
ty favor of the ultimate object, gooc
roads.
If farmer owned potato planter
which he deemed somewhat run dowr
and out of date, naturally he would be
in the market for something new anC
better. A salesman calls on him anC
says:
"Mr. Blank, understand you need {
new potato planter. Now, about sixt.
days ago our company was formed anC
we have turned out a beauty 1t ha
never been tested but we guarantee i
fully, except that we cannot replac
defective parts"
"What is it like, and what is i
WORTH" naturally inquiries the caution
Mr.. Blank.
WELL" says the salesman glibly a
he passes over a cigar encased in
rainbow, 'our planter-we call it tn
Senate 12O' is composed of 81 part
aside from the frame, few levers beini
in reach of the operator. 1t was pu
to gether by about thirty different me
chanics with no plans or blueprint t.
follow, and after completion all die
were destroyed. If you buy one AM
don't like it you will have to keep it a
we can take nothing back. Would yor
like to have one?" and he begins t
unscrew his fountain pen. Mr.. Blanl
picks up a stick for experience teache
him he can think better while whiting
whats the price?" he inquiries
one eye closing slightly.
1.-THE price," says the salesman, az
conditional. You pay 500 cash an
give US your note for another S10(
But if the machine works as we hop
it will, and as the thirty mechanic
claim it will, then we will return yo
your note after say, ten years, an
you can give US recommendation
Fair enough, amt it," and he gets OF
his pad. Mr.. Blank smiles slightly
then some little corrugations come t
light on his brow as he drops the site
and shuts his knife. Here, Tige
here, Buck" is all he says. After tn
dogs come back and spit out som
threads and suspender buckles, Nj
Blank goes thoughtfully over to the Of
planter and mutters to himself, ''I'
just take day off and with littl
study guess l can make that darne
old trap do the work at least for al
other season."
xxx
Mr.. Blank, the farmer, as an indiv
dual is shrewd. Make him collectiv,
Should he be any the less shrewd?
it the part of a sensible community {
taxpayers to buy such planter fl
their 80, 600 acres of potato land, othe
wise the proposed Jerome Highwa
District? For the district propose
embraces such an area, contains near
200 square miles, has about 26O miles
section line roads, to say nothing of til
half mile intersections, in fact, con
prises about one-tenth of tillable Lii