The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-05-04
GOOD ROAD POINTERS

The (road) bond issue, should 1t be
voted, will be taken care of by the
quarter-mill state road tax and auto
mobile licenses. Both must be paid
whether the bonds carry or not. To us
1t seems the bond issue should be IA
vored by all.-Hermiston Herald.
X X X
"The attitude of the State Highway
Commission in reference to the distri-
button of the s6.o00,O00 state bond is-
sue will be to show no undue prefer
ence to any particular section of the
state over another" comments the
Roseburg Review. ut is their inten-
tion to cooperate with all the counties
throughout the state, not with few,
as many have been led to believe
through opponents to the bond issue.
Douglas County should not lag mo-
ment until some action is taken where
by our road interests will be mater
tally benefited by the proposed bond
ISSUE"
"Will 1t not be far better to sell
these proposed bonds and begin our
road work by common-sense system
than to dribble 1t out in small sums
from year to year and in the end ac-
complish nothing?" inquiries the Hood
River Glacier.
1t Is time Oregon was getting out OF
the mud, comments the Tillamook
Herald. California and Washington
have both made large appropriations
for good roads during the past few
years, while Oregon has stood still.
The bonding bill which will come up
for consideration in June is an eco
nomic business proposition.
K 4 X
The annual license on all automo-
biles has been doubled. The fees from
this source will be adequate to pay the
interest and the principal Of the $6,-
100000 road bonds. Automobile own
ers are willing to pay the increased IL
cense but ask that the money raised
therefrom shall be spent in road con-
struction. Why not? They are going
to pay the bill. And 1t will not be
necessary to raise general taxes, either.
Vote for the bonds.
| 4 4 4
From a series of investigations, the
U. s. Department of Agriculture has
found that, following the improvement
| of the main market roads, the increase
In the selling price of tillable farm
lands served by the roads has amount
| ed to from one to three times the total
cost of the improvements.
X 4 4
The construction of hard-surfaced
roads that will enable the farmer to
reach the Columbia River with his
grain and other products will give the
producers of Eastern Oregon the full
benefit of water competition In mar
keting their products and will uiti
mately bring about a reduction of ex
cessive freight rates that are now In
effect over the various branch railroad
lines on which the farmer is now de
pendent for transportation.
4 X
The fact that the United States is al
war with a foreign foe only furnishes
an additional argument in support o.
the good roads bond bill. Improved
and serviceable highways are mill
tary necessity in time OF war. In theil
J present condition, even the main trunl
roads in this state are entirely made
uuate to meet the situation should thu
Pacific Coast ever be attacked by un
friendly forces. Good roads are no
only desirable In time Of peace but arr
positively Indispensable when thu
country is In a state of war.
4
Commenting on the selection OF Her
bert Num- as State Highway Engineer
r. B. Murdoch, roadmaster for Coo
County. pays the following high trih
ute to the qualifications OF Mr.. Num-
"By executive and technical traininj
and experience, he Is easily the bcs
+ qualified man In the State OF Oregon
y II not on'.he Pacific Coast, for the pc
sition which he has recently beel
appointed to fill. The Commission !
to be compiimented upon their choic
and the state upon its good fortune i
securing Mr.. Nunn's services"