The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-01-29
AN uNriMELY PROTEST

r. S. Meader, of Tunk creek, registers
:, protest in the Riverside Argus because |
the county commissioners, after neglect |
ing that outlet for % years, have approp-
liated $4,000 for the construction OF ROAD
from Orovile into the Similkameen val
ley. The article states that the money
il to be used for a road from Oroville
to the power plant" This is wholly mis-
leading, incorrect, and to put it mildly,
false 1t is taken for granted that in his
cooler moments Mr.. Meader is just, rea-
.onable and fair minded man. II not
then his protest against any public I'M
proyement should be passed up as the
yaporings OF a mind diseased. unworthy
of notice or consideration. This paper
is explaining the situation on the pre-
sumption that Mr.. Meader is open to con-
yiction, and that he will realize that he
has permitted wrong impression to
warp his judgment.
The road for which the money recently
appropriated is to be applied is one of the
crying needs of the north part OF the
county, and any protest against its con-
struction comes with "a poor grace when
il Is considered how little of the public
cash has been spent on roads in part
of the county that has paid large por-
portion of taxes for so many years. For
time immemorial the residents of this
part of the county have endeavored to
secure "A road up the Similkameen river
[, Nighthawk, where 1t would be con
uected with roads already constructed
that would put this locality in touch with
the farming country of the Similkameen
valley on both sides of the boundary line
one or two surveys have been made, yet
IL. in xvnV n "a H.
way has grown out of those surveys.
Under present conditions In order to
reach Oroville from Nighthawk. and visa
versa, distance of only ten or twelve
miles, it is necessary to drive around by
the way of LOOMS, a distance of about
~ miles, or north through Richters pass
into British Columbia and then down to
Oroville, another days journey. A road
up the Smilkameen river would provide
"A natural easily travelled highway OF
only a few miles i'm length, which would
accommodate a large amount of travel.
Moreover, ii would permit of connection
with the Canadian coast to coast high
way at Keremeos, and would thereby
divert much tourist travel into the state
that does not now reach this side of the
line. The road Is not in any sense for
the accommodation of the power plant,
por there Is already road from Oroville
TO the falls of the Similkameen. The
proposed new road is only an extension OF
this old one to point where it connects
with a road already used, although open
tn much improvement, from Nighthawk
nearly to Rich Bar.
This paper has never opposed the con-
struction OF roads into the fine farming
country east of the Okanogan river
where Mr. Meader makes his home. II
has envied those living in the valley a
few miles to the south where thousands
Of dollars Of public money have been ex-
pended In road improvements, yet has
never protested. Occasionally a grow
has gone up, because the road from To-
nasket up the valley to the British Co
lumbia line has received so little atten'
ton, the logical route of travel north
and south. yet nothing has been gained
by growing. The people up this way
have paid taxes with painful and pocket.
hook facilitating regularity. living or
hope Of being eventually recognized ir
the matter of roads. Now that a COM
,paratively small sum has been granted
for a road needed for time beyond mem
DRY it is rather provoking to have the
purpose Of the appropriation misrepre.
seated. and a protest entered from q
source from which congratulations anC
announcement should have animated.