The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-10-11
WEDNESDAY, OCT. IL, 1911.
BUILDING PUBLIC A

One OF the most perplexlng problems
that confront the authorities in the
sever al counties throughout Montana,
is the matter of providing the com.
munity with good public roads. The
annual expense connected with this
department OF county government is
enormous-in many counties the cost
of road and bridge work exceeds the
expenditures made for any other pur.
%pose-but a public highway in Mon
tsns that can be classed as "good" is
seldom in evidence.
An experiment in the matter of build
Ing public roads is being tested in
Lincoln county, the board of commits
sioners having decided to submit to
popular vote a proposition to bond
the county for 1926, 000, this amount
to be expended for road and bridge
work in various parts Of Lincoln
county. II the voters give this pro-
posed LEI departure their approval,
and this large sum Of money become
available for the purpose designated,
the Lincoln county authorities will
proceed Immediately to carry out q
plan of road and bridge building
which under ordinary circumstances
could not be undertaken for several
years.
The advocates of this proposition
to borrow money with which to pro.
vide better transportation facilities
for Lincoln county citizens, contend
such public improvements will
enhance the value of private property
that may be benefited. 1t is also
claimed q better system Of public
highways will attract new settlers,
and increase the amount of taxable
property in the county. Another
argument in favor of the issuance of
bonds is that roads and bridges are
permanent improvements from which
future gener atoms will derive benefit,
and it is proper that they contribute
In part toward the necessary expense
by making them responsible for the
payment of the bonds at some future
time.
A similar view of the proposition is
taken by the authorities of an eastern
Montana county, where SO much money
has been spent on roads that the coun-
ty road fund shows an indie btedness
OF more than ESQ, 600. It is proposed
to convert this warrant indebtedn mess
into bonds that will mature in about
twenty years, a plan that will shift
part OF the burden to citizens who
may hereafter acquire taxable prop
erty that is benefited by these public
improvements.
Large expenditures for road work
are made annually In nearly every
county throughout Montana, but there
10 . general belief that taxpayers do
not get an equiv alent in value. The
Montana road laws are so poorly
adapted to the conditions that obtain
In many parts OF the state, that the
public seldom receives q dollars
worth of improvements for each dol.
lsr that is expended.
1t has been suggested that public
road matters could be managed with
better results under q system similar
to that which applies to public schools.
This would contemplate the division
OF q county into conveniently ar.
ranged road districts, each to be un.
der the direction of a local board Of
officials who would have authority to
bond their district, or make q special
tax levy, to provide funds for any
road improvements desired.
This may not be the best solution of
the problem, and it is hoped the next
legislative assembly will give its at.
tention to the road laws and take &C.
ton that will provide Montana citi.
zens with better public highways.