Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-14
THE INTER-CoUNTY BRIDGE BILL

House bill No. 375 introduced by the Marion county
delegation should pass the senate it has already passed
the house The quarrel between the Marion and Polk
county courts the ntercounty bridge at Salem in
spred this measure must be admitted but it also pro-
vides for settling similar trouble that might arise in the
future between any two other counties.
By the provisions of this measure if specifications for
the building OF bridge are adopted by one county, they
may be submitted to the other county court and every
thing satisfactory, the work proceed But if the
first plans are not agreed upon the highway commission
may be called upon to furnish plans If these plans
agreed upon the work can proceed But if there is a
deadlock and the two counties not agree then one OF
the counties go ahead and agree pay not less than
its share Of the cost based the assessed valuation of the
two counties and then will devove the other county
to pay its share But if this fails then either county may
go ahead and build the bridge pay the entire cost and
have entire control.
1t is true that such measure may not be necessary
very often to settle controversy between counties since
the members of most county courts reasonable and
fair. Marion county has built several ntercounty
bridges in the pastone near Newberg which turned con-
siderable Marion county trade into Yamhll county, and
two spanning the Linn county line In all these
cases short joint session of the two county courts was
all that necessary to formulate the working agree
ment Marion county is paying its share of the ex-
pense of free ferry independence which also gives
of people better opportunity to spend their
money in that Polk county town than they otherwise
would haveand nobody on this side of the line object
ing to it,
But when Marion asks Polk county to join in rebuild
ing the Salem bridge which is of almost statewide inn
p0rtance in its convenience to the travelling public as he
connecting link between the east and west sides Of he
Willamette Valey---a few Dallas businessmen back up|
the county Judge in making unreasonable demands upon
the Marion county court They only to pay third OF
the cost of the bridge yet they must be allowed to name
the type of bridge the material to be used the plans to be
adopted and have construction work virtually turned over
them If this is not conceded they say there will be no.
bridge caring nothing for the interests OF the people
Of their own county who are directly affected Of the
thousands of others who Inconvenience throughout
large section Of the valley They reject the advice and
plans of the state highway commission and simply issue
an ultimatim that Marion county must take their kind
of bridge on their terms no bridge at ALL
This explains the situation that brought about the In
PRODUCTION of house bill 375 1t is true that not many
county courts will ever take the stand taken by that OF
Polk county, Most of them fair and reasonable and
have the interests of their constituents at heart but
occasionally there might be another case like this and
there will be law the statute books to tit the case II
this bill passes.
Also it is in line with all the proposed legislation for
road building before this session. places the supervision
of the construction of the important bridges in the hands
of the state highway commission it ought to be-
They will be responsible then for type Of bridge best suit
ed for the location the materials to be used and the con-
tract price to be paid This is the central idea OF all
the road codes that have been presented to the legislature
This nter-county brodge bill will fit into the road laws
that are being enacted and become essential part of
them. :
It will be good news to many that the road over the