The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-01-17
CITIZENS GET NO HELP
FROM Com M|ss|0NERs
REQUEST FROM COMMITTEE FOR
IMPROVEMENT OF PLACER
CREEK TURNED DOWN.

The county commissioners have re.
fused positively to contribute any.
thing toward the improvement of Pla.
Ger creek for the purpoes of protect
ing property from future damage by
high water. This in brief was the
result of conference In which the
city was represented by Mayor
Brown, City Attorney L. E. Worstell
Councilman FL. Il. Howes, C. M. John
son and George Moison and a citizens
committee appointed by the mayo,
consisting of w. A. Featherstone, n
M. Thomas and G. j. Peterson. The
three county commissioners were pre-
sent, but John F. Murphy was the
only one who entered into the dis
cussion. The conference was held
| Tuesday afternoon.
What the City Asked.
The city proposes to change the
channel of the creek by carrying it
along the hill from point about 1000
feet above the city limits until it
meets the present channel along the
hill inside the limits. This involves
the making of a new channel about
$50 feet inside the limits and 1000
Outside. The council has no author
lty to make the improvement outside
the city and ii was the construction
of the channel above the city limits
that the committee asked the com
missioners to undertake. The cost
is estimated at $4,000. All the dam
age along King street and along the
creek down to High street was caus-
ed by the unprotected condition of
Placer creek outside the city limits.
and 1t was for this reason that the
committee as well as the people of
Wallace, generally, felt that the coun-
ty is obligated to make such improve
ments as will give the large number
of property owners exposed to the
danger protection and security from
further damage. 1t was reasonable
request. and one that the taxpayers of
this city were justified in expecting
the commissioners to grant.
County Is Too Poor.
Mayor Brown and the committee
representing the city failed to pro-
duce an argument that appealed to
Commissioner Murphy. He said that
he and his associates had discussed
the matter thoroughly and that they
were unanimous in the conclusion
hat the county could do nothing to-
ward controlling the waters Of Placer
'reek. All available money would be
Needed In repairing the roads of the |
county, and besides If the county un- I
iertook the work proposed 1t would
'pen the door for similar applications
or help from other parts of the
'ounty, and these applications were
Untitled to just as much consideration
IS the people of Wallace. He said
he county would take care of the
'lacer creek road and that was all il
would do.
Build Roads to Be Washed Out.
According to the attitude of the
as outlined by Mr..
iurphy, the county can build roads.
ut 1t can spend no money in con-
rolling the waters of streams TO pre- {
ent roads being washed out. Thus !
BAD building becomes sort of per- {
etual motion. After they are wash Z
d out the county rebuilds them only |
be washed out by the next flood I
hanging channels to protect them I
ould be a waste of money. This \
stem is being Illustrated by the work =
at is now being done by the county 4
st above the city limits on Placer q
eek, on the road which Mr.. Murphy Q
Us the county will keep in repair. y
ne work that is now being done win
washed out just as certain as there
high water again in the spring. If 81
e county would change the chan ~ ~
as indicated, the road would be ns
fe for all time, The hundreds of la
ople who live along the creek and ns
lose beautiful homes are in jeopardy :.
of no concern to the commission tn
!, and not a dollar will be spent by of
county in giving them protection.
e decision of the commissioners is
appointing, but not unexpected.
City Will Act.
dayor Brown and the entire coun-
accompanied by the city engineer, an
proceed at once to make a tor
rough inspection of Placer creek ~. ~.
hin the city limits and determine 10.
N a plan to protect property to ual
extent of their power. 1t is very isi
cult problem without the coopera- US
of the county, but the city adj SEE
istration can be depended upon to e
The limit Of its resources. re