Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-08-13
|GOOD ROADS OPERATIONS IN
NORTHWEST POLK SPREADS
FAME OF DISTRICT IN
FOUR COUNTIES.
COST is $4,000 PER MILE
More Than Four Miles of Model
Highway on Important Coast Route
Completed: Trip Over 1t Is Inspira-
. ton, and Shows What United Action
May Do.
(By E. F.)

With approximately four and three
fourths miles of what is undoubtedly
the best road in Polk county complet-
\ ed, work in district No. 1, in North
: western Polk came to an end for the
season last week The excellence of
this road, which is we'll known, is
looked upon as the standard of road
/ construction. 1t is on the main high
way to the Tillamok coast country,
+ and daily many automobiles and horse
cquippages pass over it. Its fame is
known to the autoists of Portland,
and its excellence is a theme for con-
VersatiOn where good roads enthusi-
asts fOregather. 1t has taken two
seasons to build it, and it will require
another season or more to finish it to
it's projected limits, but it has been
money we'll spent and the men who
paid for it should be, and no doubt
are proud of their work.
Built by Special Tax.
This road is a shining example of
what the residents of any neighbor-
hood in the county may do, if they so
desire Last fall the voters of the
road district placed a special tax of
eight mills upon the taxable property
of their district for road purposes
and as soon as possible this spring
work began. Approximately $1,000
was raised by taxation, and the reg
ular appropriation from the county
court. In order to reach the rock
quarry it was necessary to build a
bridge over the Yamhill river, and
the total cost of opening the quarry
was something like $4,000, but this
portion of the work is completed and
next year every cent appropriated to
this district may be used on the road
itself and it is believed that next
season the road will be completed to
the Ouer bridge.
Road Is Model.
For four and a half miles this road
has been completed along the north
bank of the Yamhill river. Starting
at Wilamina it closely follows the
banks of that beautiful stream and its
broad surface, rocked to a width of
- feet, is a model piece of work. 1t
is rocked to a depth of 10 inches,
and is as smooth as a floor. The cost
has approXimated about $4,000 a mile,
but it requires only one trip over it
for anyone to realize that it has been
money well spent. The road is officially
known as the "Willamina and Dolph'
highway, and is the gateway to four
counties-POlk. Lincoln, Yamhill and
Tillamook. Some heavy work in
cutting and filling has been done but
every foot shows that men familiar
with a proper road construction have
had charge of operations. The curry
atures are long and graceful, the
grades easy, and the inspiring sweep +,
of fertile fields, wooded hills and f.
sparkling river, forms pleasing vista !
to the eye that once seen, will not I
soon be forgotten.
Inspiration For Other Districts.
But what has been done in this I
district may be done in any other as
has before been stated. The enter (
prising people of district No. l have |
solved the transportation problem, or !
are solving il as rapidly as possible I
Voting a special tax has increased the I
value of their farms to an apprecia- /
hle extent. They have transformed /
a trail of mud in winter and a rough, /
hilly and unsatisfactory road in sum
mer into a finished and excellent
highway which will permit them to
haul heavy loads to market at all .
times of the year and. in addition. I
will reflect great credit upon their .
neighborhood as an enterprising and .
progressive community. They have
certainly received their moneys .
worth.
The voting of a special tax in other .
d stTicts of the county would speedily .
solve the question of good roads. so
far as Polk county is concerned. .
While the County Court is doing all .
that is possible in this regard. they
cannot hope to cover the entire
county in one year. or in 10. for that
matter. owing 10 limited funds. but
the individual districts may assist in
great measure.
Good Roads Plentiful
Polk has many good roads and
more miles are being added to the
total yearly. People who have had
occasion TO travel over the roads of
this. and adjoininE counties. are
unanimous in declaring that this
county leads all others in the matter
of improved highways The worst
places are being rebuilt and improv-
ed as rapidly as possible. but il all
requires time and. with the large ter
ritory 10 be served. il is impossible
for the County Court 20 give all re-
lief at once. Residents Of other
neighborhoods should make a trip 20
district No. 1 and inspect the work
being done there. and they may thus
see for themselves what may be ac-
cnmp-ished In single year By united