Bisbee daily review., 1912-07-25
SAYS RANCHERS SHOULD AID GOOD
 ROAD BUILDING
H cath Interview Starts Talk of Benefit Farmers Would Derive from
 Highway

Considerable comment was hear,
 yesterday among those most activ
 in the good roads movement, relativ
 tO statement by H. H. Heath, put
 lished in The Review anent the fen,
 ing by ranchers of roads surveyed B
 the county and dedicated 10 the us;
 of the public This statement sug
 gested that the Tanchers may take
 the matter 10 the courts and fight
 the matter of road building until il I shall be done according to certaiI ideas of their own, largely the run ming of roads along section lines One good roadster commented or ' the statement of Mir Heath yesterday and said: It seems hardly possible that those who are most yitally in 1 terested in having an excellent road system built should desire to oppose ] their own interests, and believe the statement voiced the sentiments or a
 very small minority. Admitting that
 each rancher has his rights, those
 of the majority must govern. and 1
 believe the county officials are striv-
 ins to benefit the largest number in laying out roads as they do.
 Would Increase Cost
 The statement s;gs tpat V is
 possible to lay out roads along sec tion lines. Suppose it is possible. is it always practical? Anyone who has been through the valley at all must know that washes and arroyos run in varying directions. There is d limited amount of money available Tor road building, therefore, tO build the greatest possible amount, the course must be taken that will en- able this to be done at the least ex- pense. Points where large or nu- merOus culyerts would have to be put in must be avoided Cuts and fills must so far as possible. be avoid ed, This cannot be done if a hard and fast rule of following section lines is followed. The rancher who insists -on this and thereby prevents the building of a road to his neigh bor's land is not endeayoring to pro mote the general interests"
 Another member of the Borderland route association said that while the statement made by Mr. Heath merely Infected the ranchers of the Sulphur Springs valley, nevertheless it might equally well be applied by any who desired to do so in other directions. ilong the proposed state highway and | he BordeTland route.
 Might Assess Benefit
 Continuing, he said: Tt would 1 .eem that any thinking rancher would { De glad to have a fine road built | O his ranch and would be glad to !! have Il run through his premises. to ave the needed right of way in or. Ter that he might have a good road rom his doo to the nearest markets.
 believe the thrifty and thinking nes do desire this, and that others | 'ill come to understand it. It seems O plain that the opening uD Of com. nunication In all directions with farm nd town is of mutual benefit. I he. .eve if possible all should get to- ether. Let the rancher see that e Is getting more than he gives. nat he and his neighbors are being lrectiy benefited. There have been roubles over rights of way since ne earliest records of civilization or success. an unselfsh spirit should r C cultivated as assiduously as the and. ~
 City Folk Pay Most
 The greater burden of expense for cad building falls on the taxpayers the cities and the towns. The ay- rage rancher pays but little. hut ne roads which are built enhance ne value of his holdings directly ne building of roads should go m nd hope 1t will do so amjcably if the march of progress. If if Is ecessary 10 have condemnation pro- eedlhgs, It will add to the expense ' adding court costs. Under those lrcumsiances, 1t seems to me the roper method is to adopt the legal roeeedings that are used in inc .rser cities, New York, for instance hus' when there is to be a street pened or widened or improved a ohihission is appointed and the nee ssary land is taken. Two mans ara 'due, ana two lists, a benefit man , ia hst' and a damage map and list ne latter shows what property ia , iken Tor the improvement and al. TVS certain damages, while the forn,- rD shows what property is benefiit. ana assesses a certain share in | lose so benefited. Often the same ( ioperty Is on both maps and lists. hd the benefit exceeds the damages that the owner pays some part eff ( i', ie assessment, If that. practice were 1 'iio"ed Tn the county. practically ey- " ranch that is directly bepefted . matter whether a portion of it , ere taken for the line of the road ouid pay a portion Of the road i'm. .oFemenI which directly enhances value by putting 1t on a county 'du. such a method would be fair ! it IL would be hard on the ranch. .s' who could not afford to pay the ' NPehse Of the road building. If ouid tighten the burden of the tar. i%yers % Tn the city and town. but II 7 'snt mean a practical confiscation d
 the ranch proDtry. If this is con n oereo' IT the rancher will but sea 1, iae the road is being built for bis I, 'heht and for his use. for that of hid [ 'Al heighhor and the neighbor be- f 'hu. that 1t gives to hin and to f em esreSs 10 the cities, saves them f me and money, and thaf a,,ar,, ...- t