Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-09-12
IMPROVED ROADS IN
WHITMAN COUNTY
Report of the Road Committee
of the Federated
Clubs

nroyel roads III whitman County. en-.
braces several large problems, each
distinct, yet related to the whole. Fl.
nanclal questions, constructive oues-
ions. legal questions, and political
questions,
Your committee has endeavored to
pursue it's Investigations in an eff.
cient manner, and has divided the
entire question into several sub.heads.
First. Extent of roads in approxl.
mate miles.
About $50 miles, exclusive of State
Roads provided for by the last Legis.
lature, and improved roads now built
Is recommended. This conclusion
was reached in this way: Road mans
Of each road district in the County.
we're obtained through the courtesy
Of Mr.. Miller, County Engineer and
sent with identical letters of instruc.
ton to the supervisors of the respec-
tive road districts, requesting that the
more important roads be indicated by
red pencil lines. The districts en-
bracing the important trade centers
Of the County, reported a mileage
quite uniform in each district in ratio
Of mileage of roads indicated for i'm
.provement, to assessed valuations,
This ratio was one mile to about 1920.
10000 of assessed valuations. On this
basis the entire County would require
about $50 miles, the assessed valua-
ton of the entire County being s42.-
O00,00000 in round numbers. How
ever, when each member of the com
mittee applied the quota to which his
particular locality was entitled and
with the needs of which he was famil-
lar, he found that it would not include
all important primary roads, and that
any plan recommended to be suffi-
GENTLY comprehensive to receive so
per cent of the support of the elector-
ate of the County, must have a mile
age of $50 miles, exclusive of the
roads before mentioned Altogether
the improved roads would total nearly
500 miles, nearly one fourth of all the
roads of the County, revised estim-
ate of the County Engineer being
about 1000 miles for total mileage.
Second. Distribution of roads and
agency for selecting same.
TNo committee unhesitatingly rec
ommend that all roads begin at recog-
nized trade centers, or form extern
sions OF existing permanent roads be-
ginning at trade centers. The roads
should radiate from trade centers,
connecting up with other roads from
ether trade centers, forming a system
OF roads for the County
The committee are now of the opin-
Ion that fair and just distribution of
roads can only be made on basis
OF assessed valuations. This will re-
Quire the division of the County into
distinct units, each being trade cen
ter with its trade territory This can
not be done with mathematical ac-
curacy, and serve the best interests
OF the County as a whole, but distri
button should be based on this prin-
clple. Particular roads to be improV-
cd In each trade unit shall be deter
mined in the same manner, in which
roads are now selected for improve
ment under the Permanent Highway
ACT, viz: Petition by abutting prop
erty with sanction of Commissioners.
Third. Financing.
1t is obvious that the extensive i'm
proVements contemplated, must be
largely financed by bond issue. JUS
ice as well as eXpediency, however,
requires that a portion of the cost,
say l5 per cent as under the Perman-
ent Highway Law Gas it is interpreted
III this County, shall be borne by the
property zones abutting on the I'M
proVement. 1t will be conceded that
one-nalf to three-fourths of the traffic
On these roads will be purely local
originating in the property zones abut-
ing on the roads. 1t is little enough
mat the zones pay Is per cent of the
cost when they receive so per cent to
70 per cent of the benefit of the i'm
proVement. Probably no plan could
pass the electorate of the County with
'his feature eliminated.
twenty year bonds with one-twen-
.'eth of the principal payable annual
" seems preferable to the sinking
'und plan. 1t is the present opinion
VI the committee, that while the en-
sue required, shall be au-
one election, the bonds be
Solo al different times in amounts
Saiilcient to finance not less than so
/ 'ues OF road. 1t is believed that I'M
contracts for so miles, as low a
.s' per mile for construction can be
"Otained az it will be possible to get.
- probable that some trade units