The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-11-01
ALL ARE STRONG
FOR GOOD ROADS
CONTINUED from first page)

Intelligent and effective criticism ir
road matters. 49, - &C..
"In announcing a permanent prin.
ciple for road program in this coun-
ty, it seems to me we could not do bet
ter than to accept the one adopted by
the good roads association. refer
particularly now to the idea of lay
ing out the main arteries of county
highways in the county and insisting
on their being properly finished be-
fore allowing new road plans to inter-
fere. .a... W.T. ..-:r
"In the formulating of such plans
it seems to me highly proper and de-
sirable that this association act in con-
junction with the county commission
ers. In my opinion such a road sys-
tenn should be so designated and laid
out as would not only stimulate thru
travel but would best serve the diff
ferent communities in the county. A
part of such scheme would, of course
include a portion of the thru state
highways, but not necessarily alto
gether. When such main county high
ways were once established, no change
should be made, but every effort put
forth to see that they were completed
as speedily as possible and kept in
thoro repair. Funds from the perma-
nent highway fund should go toward
construction of such roads and be aug
mented by contributions from the road
and bridge fund. When by this means
a good gravel road was secured over
the routes selected / would suggest, if
found feasible and desirable, using the
same funds each year to resurface
these roads with concrete or some
other form Of surfacing that would be
permanent and call for very small cost
of up-keep. If such a plan were for
INFLATED and carried out it would be
only short time until this county
would have good roads between all of
its principal points and in few years
a road system that would be pointed
to- with pride by all of our citizenship.
II do not, Of course, mean by this
that the lateral roads should be ne
elected by any means. The district
road fund should be kept intact for
their construction and maintenance,
and the same rule should apply to the |
main lateral roads as to the main |
county highways.
"The kind of road that should be /
ouilt, or rather, perhaps I should say
he material to be used in its construc-
ion, is always a fruitful topic for dis
.ussion. It seems to me that while I
We should be much interested in not
ng lasting results obtained in other
ocalities in the use of concrete, War
enite, bithulithic, ETC., our great con-
ern at the present time is where to
ind at convenient points the best
'ravel beds from which to get mater
al to cover the foundation for what
would call our future good roads.
am well aware that many so-called
xperts in. road making insist that
he only wise and sensible method to h,
ursue is to build, if only one mile in
year, the highest and best type of
nished roadway. This theory may
pply in some sections, but do not
elieve it does to this county. I be-
eve the needs of our people will be
etter taken care Of by the construc- /,
ion of, say, nine-inch gravel roads !,
n grades properly made. In some
ections the gravel, especially that :
AIKEN from the Columbia river, car
les with it binder that helps ma
II