Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-03-03
COUNTY ROAD TAX.

The members Of the County Couri
and the taxpayers of Dallas were
right in compromising the difference
arising out Of division Of the county
road fund. Dallas asked for so pei
cent of its road taxi the Court refused
I to give it. BY the terms Of the agree
ment reached Wednesday afternoon
the city will receive 35 per cent OF this
tax paid by its property owners. Tht
county will retain 65 per cent Of tht
fund and will also keep in repair all
bridges within the Dallas city limits
/ This Is an equitable adjustment
BY it's provisions, both the farmer and
the town dweller viii be benefited
Dallas has long contended that fl
should be given a reasonable proper
/ tion Of the road tax paid by its citi-
zens. Some taxpayers have gone 50
I far az to insist that the city should
have 1t ALL Happily, however, these
extremists are in the minority. The
prevailing judgment is that the town
and country should work hand in
/ hand in improving the county high
Ways. Dallas pays large proper
tion Of the road tax levied by the
county 1t would not be fair for the
city to keep all Of this money; neither
would it, be fair for the country dis
tricts to demand the entire amount.
II must be remembered that there
are county roads within the
boundaries Of the city. These roads.
where they adjoin plated town lots,
are kept in repair by individual prop
erty owners. But the intersections of
these roads and such parts az lie along
acreage property cannot be improved
by assessments upon abutting prop
erty The burden Of this expense has
heretofore come out of the city treas
ury. While Dallas has paid enor-
nous sums in road tax each year, 1t
has received no aid from the county
farther than the construction of two
comparatively inexpensive bridges and
a part Of the cost Of grading the
Dimick hill. Farmers driving into
town are often heard complaining that
the worst roads encountered on their
trip were those leading from the city
limits to the thickly settled portion of
town. These muddy thoroughfares
which the city has no authority to-
enforce Improvement. Dallas has long
felt the injustice of helping to build
good roads into Salem, Independence,
Falls City and Monmouth. while the
roads within her own bound.
aries were in such wretched condi-
ton.
It must also be sorroWfully admit
ted that not until within recent years
has a County Court shown any desire
to aid Dallas by improving the county
roads in the territory Immediately
to the town. The Guthrie
ane, the Salt Creek road, the Oak
iale, Liberty, Cooper Hollow and Pio- |
1eer roads. were long well-nigh i'm !
Dassable in the winter months, and /
some OF them are little better now.
But Dallas is not unmindful of the |
TACT that the Court has been doing |
some good work on the Lucklamute /
and Salt Creek roads in the last few
years, and there are Indications that
hese highways are now to receive
he attention they have so long de-
Ierved.
Dallas would doubtless be willing to
dive the county all of its road tax
'ould IL only have the assurance that
uch money would be used exclusive
y in improving the county roads
eading into Dallas But such an ar
angement would not be fair to the
more remote districts, and it will not
,e asked. BY the terms of the agree
nent reached yesterday, the city will
etain enough OF its road money to
improve the county roads within It's
'orders, and the remainder will be
.lvcn TO the farming districts. With
his clear understanding between the
ourt and the city council, good re-
ults are assured A fair and reason
BILE compromise of such differences
s arose between the city and county
) better than a lawsuit 1t is more
eighbOrly and less expensive.