The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-03-12
THAT STATE ROAD MIDDLE

There is complex ratification of state
highways laid out covering eastern and
western Washington, to be built and
maintained by a state road tax that an
nually brings in many thousand dollars
Some of the roads are partially construct
ed, and altogether an enormous amount of
money has already been expended in road
improvements.
At every session of the legislature there
has been much log rolling to obtain slices
of this fund for pet roads, with the re-
suit that the distribution has been rarely
fair and equitable. There are many Good
Roads associations in the state, and last
fall it was decided that representatives
of these associations should get together
at central place and in conference come
to some amicable understanding with the
aim of having the biannual appropria-
tions equally distributed.
The meeting was held at Spokane, and
Hon. w. A. Bolinger, of this county, was
present. There are two main trunk roads
in Okanogan county, known as Nos 10
and II. Through the representations of
Mr.. Bollinger the conference agreed that
some $4,000 should be allotted to roads
Nos 10 and II. Mr.. Bollinger is entitled
to the thanks and gratitude of the entire
county for his zeal and enterprise in Sc
curing this concession.
The meeting of the Good Roads associa-
ton was attended by "a number of hold
over senators and men who were sub
sequently elected to the Legislature.
These men unequivocally endorsed the
decision of the association. TO their
| credit be it said they stuck faithfully to
their promise, and allowed no looting of
| the funds to pay political debts, or to
benefit any one small coterie of schemers.
The subsequent distribution of the road
funds so far as this county was concern
ed would have been all smooth sailing,
without scandal, without controversy, had
not small clique at Tonasket hit the
happy idea of grabbing off large chunk
| OF this road appropriation and spending
| it on road No. 4, a road that was laid out
| to meet the eXgencics of early days long
| before there was foot of railroad in the
| county. Those interested in this scheme
selected A. j. Nickle as the one man
whom they could the most easily handle
as candidate for the legislature. He
was elected and he should be given cred
it for having stuck faithfully to his agree
ment, or the agreement of his henchman.
So truly did he serve his hackers that he
voted against the democratic governor
and the democratic minority IN the house
on every occasion, in hopes of securing
Support in the project of diverting road
| money to No. 4. Had it not been for a
loyal and influential lot of residents of
Tonasket who believe in justice and fair
play Mr.. Nickle might have succeeded
in his scheme. Indeed, at one time he
thought he had the bacon, and in his joy
| Itelegraphed the report to the Tonaske,
Times. That sheet went so far in the
last issue as to spend the money, and was
very careful in the distribution of the
funds to select the most impracticabe
routes to the Canadian line, just in order
that Orovile should get no benefit what
soever.
The Times was premature in throw
} ing that money away Ike drunken sa-
ilor. Notwithstanding Nickle's opposi-
ton the road bill was amended, and pass
ed Friday, so that state road No. 10, OF