Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-06-26
Asks County Courts
To Cooperate

Because there is a lack of organ
ization in the building of good roads
in Oregon, a subcommittee appointed
by Glen o. Holman, president of the
last convention of county judges and
commissioners, has sent out list OF
questions to the county courts of the
state for the purpose of getting in
formation which may be of value in
placing road building on more sub
stantial systematized basis.
The members of the subcommittee
are Philo Holbrook, F. S. Cunning,
D. B. Reasoner, A. L. Clark, G. c.
Chapman, John Dougall, John H.
Lewis. Replies to the letter will be
received at the office of State En-
gineer John H. Lewis.
In the letter the attention of the
county courts is recalled to the fact
that over s6,OOO,OOO is expended an
nually on roads in Oregon, the work
begging done largely under the direc-
tion of the county courts.
Too Many Heads to Work.
Seventy per cent of the funds
available for county work must be
allotted to district supervisors for ex-
penditure," says the letter. 'In some
counties there appear to be sixty or
more heads to road work and as
many different systems are followed.
Good results are doubtless had in
some cases. In other funds are vast
ed. There being no clear-cut division
of responsibility, county courts are
often blamed for the inefficiency Of
the supervisors. Without centralized
control, no uniform system of maps,
profiles or cost-keeping records can
be kept so as to show where and how
this vast sum of money is expended.
Those doing good work cannot get
proper credit, and must often suffer
criticism, because there is no method
of comparing unit costs of work done
in one county or district with that of
another.
Iowa Plan Favored.
"The sentiment of the sub-commit-
tee seemed to favor the Iowa plan of
having the main trunk roads specif-
ically designated as state roads, to be
built and maintained at the expense
of the state. The main county roads
leading to state roads and to market
centers to be likewise shown on
map and to he built and maintained
under the direction of the county
courts, with only limited jurisdiction
on the part of the state to insure
standard grades and alignment, and
uniformity of records, and that inter
county roads may meet at the border
of counties. All other roads to be
built and maintained by the local dis
tricts with general supervision as to
location, grades, cost keeping, ETC.,
under the supervision of the county
roadmaster or the state.
Laws Are Conflicting.
"At present there appear to be
many conflicting and confusing pro-
visions of law, great and unnecessary
division of responsibilities, and de-
plorable lack of accurate information
for guidance of this committee in its
work"
The committee asks for informa-
tion on the following points:
1. What was the expenditure Of
your county during 1915 for roads
and bridges?
2. How many miles of county
roads of different classes in your
county?
3. How many district or road su-
pervisors in your county for 1915?
4. Do you have district supervis-
ors or a county roadmaster?
5. Is there any definite periodical
and systematic inspection of bridges
in your county and report on their
condition as to painting, upkeep, ad-
justment and durability for heavy