Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-01-14
BUSINESS
MEN PLEAD
FOR ROADS
DELEGATION OF BOARD OF TRADE
WAIT ON THE MARION COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS COURT AND
ASK FOR A THREE MILL LEVY.

ASK FOR A THREE MILL LEVY.
The Salem Board of Trade pre-
scented petitions Of about $50 citizens
Of Marion county to the county COM
missioners court FRIDAY afternoon
requesting that body to levy a three
mill tax for general fund to build
-aerranent highways main lines
norJn and south and east and west.
The petition was presented by A. f..
Hofer, secretary of the Board, who
stated the objects OF the meeting He
read a letter from Mrs. J. B. Waldo,
Of the State Grange who represents
about 1900 acres of land. F. NJ Derby
said the people demanded better roads
and the court was favorable but how
tart and how to distribute the
money over the county. The plan out
lined by Mr.. Derby was for the coun-
" court to select five lines out OF
Salem and build the same number Of
miles on each main line. Build a
few miles each year Build two miles
on each Of five roads and the people
in all directions will be satisfied.
John II. Scott favored tax enough
TO build some permanent road each
year. To keep down jealousy build In
all directions at once. The state was
going TO act, A three mill tax would
raise about 100000 Expend that
1udlclously and the people would not
feel H. These business men present
were willing to be taxed and would
uphold the county court.
Geo. r. Rodgers said the people out
south Of Salem who had built fine
roads and were willing to be taxed to
build more roads. The city of Salem
had paid nothing for good county
roads He asked that the court tax
the city of Salem to build roads out
side Of Salem.
Mr., Miles said the good roads out
south Of Salem were built largely by
private contribution, The building Of
n few miles each year in not too
homeopathic doses would be good
thing. There would be no objection
among the people to reasonable ex-
penditure for this purpose,
Mr.. Grouse said the good roads did
away with bad weather There must
DO plans and beginning, an orderly
system, build WELL what you do build
VIM McGilchrist spoke Of the en-
couragement given by the county ia
build the roads south No road would
carry n load bigger than was pos
slhle on the worst part of II. Only
a single coating of roads would dc
great deal Of good. As soon as a
good road is built property values &c
up. Now his property was taxed high
where roads were improved II,
wanted other sections improved &c
that his taxes would come down The
naimproyed property would 60 up II
value and pay It's share OF taxes.
Alex LoFollette said for every dol
lar spent for good roads by taxing his
property he would get two dollars
back.
G. StolE said II property value,
went up levies would come down. II,
favored spending 100000 year fol
ten years, A farm OF 200 acres
ulles out would increase in valu,
fiity percent by building goo,
macadam road to II. II the count,
would put up sum OF SlOO. 900, a
much more would be spent by In,
pToperty owners. Tho share paid b,
The city OF Salem would be donation
60 the country. Salem had one -thir,
Of the wealth OF the county and III,
other two-thlrds OF the county woul
Ea the benefit Five miles wer
built from Salem toward woodburl
or silverton It made little difforenc,
which end Of the line Il was built on
Max Buren said all we're In favo
Of good roads, The only dlfterenc,
VAS as to details. There were larg
realestate deeds ON loot to buy land
10 which good roads ran. The peti
lions showed goneral interest.
j. /. Stockton said he was willlni
10 pay more taxes for good roads Al
business men telt that way All the,
asked was to be assessed and /,
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