Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1916-01-14
THE COURT REPLIES
TO MR.. BENSON

In regard to the information
contained in the letter from
Amos s. Benson concerning tho
disposition or State Highway
funds will say: 1t was all news
to us. In fact almost any state
ment concerning the man. pula-
ton OF this fund would be the
same, but there is one thing we
are sure of and that is that Lin
coin county pays into this fund
$1,000 each year and has never
received a cent OF 1t back. With
all due respect to Mr.. Benson
and the enterprising citizens OF
Multnomah county.
1t seems to us that a more
satisfactory arrangement of this
matter could be made. I'm
doubtedly the State Highway
Commission could be a good
thing and just to the entire state.
The automobile has brought
communities closer together
than they have ever been before.
And the day of each little county
living to itself alone is past.
There should be an authority
over the entire state with power
to shape the roads of the state
into one system. The best
means OF securing this is a
question to be decided. We be-
ieve Mr.. Benson's suggestion of
allowing a mill to this Commits
sion is a good one. But we be-
lieye at least one half of the tax
so raised should be expended
under the direction of this Com
mission In the county where it is
raised. This would give each
county an interest in the state
roads; familiarize the Commits
sioh with the peculiar needs OF
each county; and would exercise.
an educational influence in each
ccuciJ IL the art of good road
building.
Wa h.cc"e been taught by our
esteemed Governor Withycombe.
and We believe, that it is not
best to take all the crop off
from field each year without
putting something back. 1t
would seem that the Commission
has been forced to overlook this
important bit of husbandry.
Road building in Lincoln
county has peculiarities not
common to the rest of the state.
= Here we have the mountain, for
est, deep canyons, bays and RVS
ers, a very porous soil that is al
most impossible to pack into
anything like hard surface, al
most an entire lack of available
gravel or hard rock, and copious
amount Of moisture.
We have no large wheat fields,
Vineyards and orchards, but a
sparcely settled country of the
homesteader and small farmer.
We have felt and still feel that
any money taken from this
county and spent in more ia
vored communities would be un-
just. We would like to feel that
the day when the strong would
impose on the weak is past, but
we have felt at times inclined to
doubt it.
Yet we have a country where
the forces of nature are always
kind.
The past ages have left year
by year an immense deposit of
vegetable mulch on our hills and
valleys giving us today soil
that is rich in all the elements
of plant food. The breeZes that
sweep in from the mighty Pa
cific comes laden with The elixir
of life that heals the sick and
makes the old man a boy again.
In the heart of our mountains is
distilled in abundance that pop
ular Oregon beverage-pure,
cold water. Our waters supply
without stint all the known sea
foods that are yours for the TAX
ing. The deer and other game
animals are abundant, and
wherever you may turn the heart
OF the nature lover Is thrilled by
the grandure and beauty OF oui
o scenery. Our ocean beache.
are the finest in the world, ant
the heart of the traveller is al
ways gladdened by the kindness
and hospitality Of our citizens
But we need development, ant
are making every sacrifice to at
tain this in a fair degree. w
subscribe freely to the doctrin
that It is more blessed to Civ
than to receive, but as we hav
enjoyed this part Of 1t so lon
we would like to suggest tina
those communities that hav
boo,, raooi,,ino, G, thp benefit of oil