The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-11-02

that unless the Finley precinct sup
ported him, they would get no road
funds - and they didn't get them,
either. For years we've seen the funds
used where they would secure politi-
cal support. Figures compiled by
deputy assessor Hughes show that the
lower valley during the past eight
years has received back in work on
the roads less than $50 of the money
it has paid into the county road funds.
Parts. of Horse Heaven have Jared
even worse. Could anything be more
unfair? Could anything show greater
inefficiency? Instead Of roads built
where we need them we have had to
sit by and see roads built where the
county commissioner wanted to put
them. Let us cite for example, the
ferry approach at the O-W. bridge.
Not 1To of the farmers wanted this
approach, but it was nevertheless built
at cost of many hundreds of dollars
ESTIMATED at over 81 ,000:00) to serve
private enterprise, and after OPP
Grating the ferry there two days the
ferryman moved away, leaving the
approach as a monument to the eff
ficiency of the present system which
forbids the farmers building their own
roads.
Let us compare the country with the
city. Is there any more Justice In put
ting the county road funds into the
! hands of the commissioners to use as
they wish than there would be in turn
| ing over the city street funds to be
| used anywhere in the county? The
citizens of Kennewick would call 1T
graft indeed if the county commits
sioners handled their street funds and
spent them around Prosser, but when
thew iuggle our road funds they call
4 f. bv another name-efficiency. Effici-
emf or inefficient, we've had sufficient
and it is time that the farmers OF the
/ county were supported by the busl-
ness men of the towns in their de-
! mands that they get their own road
/ money. This is question which at
fects the farmers vitality, but does not
/ affect the voter living in town except
j for the fact that what is good for the
j farmer is also good for the merchant
j and the farmer is certainly entitled
to the support of the city voters.
n One NAV theorize forever on the
cost. but the facts are that wherever
tried. the cost is less than our present
system, some figures on which we will
quote elsewhere.
|, The unsupported assertion is often
made that township organization has
nroved a failure in 500 of the coun'
f;as where tried. Ask Is farmers who
have lived under it in the middle west
and the Is will tell you it is success
Rnt to get close to home, the editor:
off;ce is half full of letters from TIT
farmers of Spokane and Whatcon
counties all of whom pronounce 1t
J most decided success. Spokane count!
J is a strong grange county, navlH,
!, nearly 1000 grangers, and they m pIt,n .
quarterly convention at Green re d Tiua,
n Oct. 18th last, and passed tne ioiio"
A ing resolution unanimously:
Il "Past experience has taught us tina
! the present system OF township OF
i ganization is not only the most eco
\ nomical, but the most satis1actor
il that has yet been devised Tor gu
4 needs. It places in our hands TN
h immediate control of the conduct
.ba business that so vitality concern
n orr welfare, namely, the raising an
Il extending of our money under CLOS
III nersonal supervision.
Il "Therefore, we, the omcerS an
H members of the Pomona Grange g
II Snokane county in general assem6l!
II are not only in favor Ut continu.n
/ the present township system IN vogu
II in this county, but we heartily ard w
n m,aIifedlv recommend such . systel
To our. neighboring counties Hhlcn al
h contending for the same. >.
II We wish further to express our Oh
approval and condemnation II TIE a
d titude and actions Of such citl:la;s
the present secretary OF the SPokal
Il County Good Roads association fral
W. Guilbert, and the present Spokal
II County Auditor, A. T. Anderson, WI
Il have circulated thruout this sta
II false and damaging reports pertainll