Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1916-05-12
Phone 1908

On account of some changes
in the manner of handling our
read and bridge work, we
thought a statement setting out
some Of the leading reasons that
1 prompted the Court to adopt
I this system they have, might be
Of interest to such of our readers
!. as are not familiar with the ex-
) listing conditions. A county
!. road may well be compared to
chain, and it's efficiency meas
. ured by its weakest links; viz
worst mud holes and steepest
hills.
All parts of the county are in
terested in the roads leading to
the railroad, seaports, County
Seat and other populous centers
where markets for produce are
found. Heretofore districts
/ In the remote parts of the county
could build good roads in their
l particular neighborhoods, but
outside their districts could do
nothing about the mountains
they must cross on their way to
1 market. Small districts were
I organized to meet the needs Of
I small communities, and the links
I connecting up the districts were
4 often neglected. District lines
I frequently followed the ridges di-
\ viding two water sheds. One
] district might be interested in
I having the road over the noun
\ tain changed or improved, while
! the district adjoining,-not us
I ing that road much, would be
\ Indifferent and the road over the
: mountain remain where the up
!, keep of the road would soon
I. pay for change that would
! practically eliminate the grade.
Z The County Court believes in
Y an equal and uniform taxation,
! and the various members look
+ ing individually at this question
I from many angles unanimously
! agreed an equal and uniform
! taxation was the only means by
I which they could establish and
y maintain a uniform system of
! county roads. -N
J An Act passed by our State
! Legislature making each incor-
I porated city and town a road
81. district In its self and an act
%@ providing that only 80 per cent
: instead of so per cent as here
! to-fore of the general road levy
I could be set aside as general
7 load and bridge fund practically
! disrupted the plans previously
I followed. This act would have
\ made it necessary for the court
! to materially increase the gen
/ eral road levy to raise sufficien
1 funds to keep up our bridge
! work and repair roads not pro
I vided for by special levies. Thi
/ raise with the heavy specia
.,$ levies made by some district
-. would have made the taxes 81
Z high as TO be almost phohibitive
4 Under the plan in practice Il
$past years some districts vote
I heavy special taxes, while other
\ voted none. Those district
voting no special tax receive
! the same share Of the genera
I road tax levied by the court a
7 did the districts voting heav
fspecial taxes to improve thei
I roads. In some cases inorde
\ to keep the roads in a passabl
-, condition in districts voting n
49, special tax, the court has bee
compelled to draw from the ger
I eral road fund a larger, amour
. \ Ethan was paid in by such dis
. : trict. This was unfair to tn
! progressive districts and wa
\ one Of the evils sought to b
overcome by uniform tax sys
Z Item. It Is hoped by this actio
I in redistricting the roads to cur
many of these evils, and retail
: all that was good in the forme
tplan.
1t is hoped by a general supel
vision Of all the roads an
I bridges Of the county, fixing tn
responsibility directly and SURF
lily, to overcome many OF the III
80 satisfactory conditions hereto
fore existing and get all roa
and bridge work under a un
form system. BY retaining tt
former road district boundarit
,gon, for working purposes and til
anoo 10, apportionment Of funds 1t
NJ NJ honed IN retain all of the ell,