East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-02-22

lIe Atull NAlU IlhSA Sh00 l0tlA
boosters" " declared Mr., Chapman, lis
that they are enthusiastic over get
ting few more miles Of improved
highway for their automobiles With
the Portland booster, all he thought
of was that new picnic ground
would be added to the place where he
could motor to enjoy himself. Hol-
mans plan of good roads included a
scheme for state
wide system. He conceived the idea
and then picked the men to serve as
an advisory committee for a good
reads program, broad enough to eX-
tend over many years He picked
public spirited citizens who would be
willing to give their time to the work
without pay.
Board is Formed.
Mr.. 5. Benson was one Of the first
men to be chosen for this board. Mr.,
Yeon was another and others were
chosen as Mr. Holman surveyed the
field for material. These men want.
ed to build up the assessed valuation
of the county. Finally, Mr.. Holman
got Mr.. Yeon to accept the job OF
road supervisor of Multnomah cOun-
ty subject to but one condition-that
he would not be permitted to resign
Mr.. Yeon accepted the position and
has been holding it. He has been
subjected to criticism but it has usu-
ally come from the small minority OF
the county. The taxpayers are be-
hind Mr.. Yeon and his work of good
roads. Business methods have sue.
ceeded in the good roads program,
Oregon Leads in Work.
Our state bears the burden Of good
reads work. oregon has led the en-
tire union in the amount per capita
that has been spent or roads Last
year, this state spent s6,0O0,O00 in
building roads or about s. per capita,
far in excess Of any other state in the
union. If this is 50, then why is it
We do not get better results? One
reason is the natural condition Of the
country with It's mountains. But Of
the money spent we are getting credit
able results for the work done will last
is or 20 years,
cone might say that it does not
seem fair to the farmer to have to
ray district, state and county road
tax while the man living within the
city limits is not subject to these three
obligations. But # we consider that
the farmer is not paying the high
property tax the city man is, we find
that the plan is not without its just
fication, for in this regard it strikes
Ia balance and no one is taxed unfair
ly The good roads problem in a
county is a problem of the county as
a unit. We must not expect to do all
the work in one year. We will find
that as the improvements are made
gradually they will benefit persons in
all parts Of the county
Cost of Hauling Great.
Mr.. Rosenthal who personally rep
resented Mr.. Benson of Portland.
spoke briefly. He declared it cost %
cents ~ the United states to haul a
ton as against 10 cents in Europe.
The only communication the farmer
has is by means of roads Figures
he said. were recently compiled to
show that so per cent Of traffic in the
United states is hauled over Il per
cent of good highways. so that b.,
even little Improvement. a large
number Of people are benefited.
There is d disposition in oregon,
he said. TO evade the bonding issue.
But if a man has piece Of land
without developments, he borrows the
money to make his improvements
Mr.. Benson says that Oregon is in a
similar position
Colonel Ralcy Speaks.
Colonel Raley was called on and
said that while he had not given any
plan or method much thought he
had given the matter Of roads consid-
erable thought and not always com
Iplmentary He expressed his appre'
ciation Of the addresses Of the eyen-
/ ing. Roads that need Improvement
he declared. are located in UmatilIa
county. VIII le we have q few pas
sable roads. there was one, he insist
ed. over which It is practically impos-
sible to get through at the close OF
the wheat season-the road between
here and Echo. There was no excuse
he said, IN o wealthy county like
/ Umatilla for roads to be in such a
condition. The reason. as he saw it
was that no formulated plan had been
outlined. The people however. are
new beginning tothink Of improving
the roads after years Of Incidence.
Marsh Fsyors Bonding.
County Judge Marsh was another
Of the audience called upon to express
his views with the limited amount
Of money available he said. in this
district It was quite impossible tc
keep the dirt roads in good condition