Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-02-23
ELK RIVER SENTINEL UN
REASONABLE.

hEASON A 81 II
The Orofino papers are not respon-
sible for the things people of this
part of the county do, or for what the
people think. Neither the Tribune
nor the Republican has any control
over the people of this section, and if
the farmers of the Fraser section,
twelve or fifteen miles from Orofino,
meet and discuss good roads. or bonds
for roads, or hog cholera, or the best
sis, or how to eat peas with a knife
and look graceful, the Orotino papers,
as we see it, have no more right to
object, and are no more responsible
than is the Elk River Sentinel, altho
the Sentinel is lambasting the Orofno
papres, accusing them with betraying
{ he people, and with other terrible
crimes, because the local papers did
not in some mysterious way go out to
Fraser at the Grange meeting and
forcibly stop any discussion of roads.
Ill tile iiiol pldCe II 10 NONE VI our
business what the people talk about,
and if either of the local papers at
tempted to use |. w w. methods on
the farmers |. r. Crow and P. l..
circuit, editors Of the Orofno papers,
would probably get dose that neither
would soon forget AS matter of
fact the Clearwater Republican made
local mention of the Fraser meeting,
and told its readers what was going
on. The Sentinel seems grieved be-
cause The Orofino papers do not oppose
permanent road construction and take
their tips from the Sentinel. If the
Sentinel believes the proposed bond
issue is a bad thing for the county
let it oppose it with all its energy
That is its right and duty. If it can
dictate to 5000 residents of Clear
water county. sand tell the farmers
what they may and may not discuss
publicly, the Sentinel has our permits
sion to get busy and make the demon
stration.
As matter of fact the Clearwater
Republican has been rather doubtful
as to the course it should pursue in
the matter of bonding our county for
$500, 600, When County Commissioner
Fred Choate urged bonds for road con-
structon, the Republican published a
statement from Mr.. Choate for public
information, without comment. When
the recent movement for bonds started
the Republican took no sides. 1t
waited for information. 1t wanted to
know how the plan was to be carried
out how it could be done. We dc
not want to see taxes increased one
cent, even for good roads.
After more thorough investigation,
discloses the fact that for five years,
beginning with the organization of the
county, we have been spending $54, DOC
annually on roads and bridges, anC
that we are getting nowhere; that
there will be no end to heavy roaC
taxes unless we build permanent
roads; that it will be cheaper to pay
interest on bonds than be be contin.
ually repairing such roads as we have
been able to build, and that we car
save money by bonding for $500, OO(
or even half million and construct
| ing permanent highways, the Republi
/ can is inclined to favor the movement
and believes it is the common sens,
thing to do.
If the county can bond for $500, 600
and build permanent roads now ant
/ give the people the use of them while
they are paying for them, and do i
on less than $54, 600 year, or can, b,
borrowing, get permanent roads wher
we can otherwise have only temporar,
roads, it is good business and econom
to spend our taxes for interest rathe
than temporary road repairs. w
believe it is cheaper to construct
when we construct at all, road tina
will last, at a minimum cost for up
keep. We believe the Potlatc
Lumber Company runs its business o
these same business principles, an
that there is no reason why good bus
mess principles should not be apple
in county affairs.