The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-11-01
BETTER ROADS ASSOCIATION

W pO iCio III ANONcIlDtT. all
considering road problems-nationa
state and local-prior TO the mex
session of the legislature, would indi
cate that a meeting of the Okanogal
County Better Roads association
should be held shortly following tn
general election. Friday, Novembe
9Th, would permit joint meeting O
the association and county commits
sloners, the present restriction Of
public meetings permitting. If unabl
To hold a general meetiIs, the execu
tive committee should appoint dele
gates to the Pasco convention and,
possible. a meeting of the association
held prior to or at the same time tn
commissioners meet in December t,
recommend and assist in the establish
hent of the proposed road distric
plan devised by the association.
10 aid in the preparation of a pro
gram for this meeting by the execu
tive officers and enable members O
the association to form their opinion.
on the major issues, | am taking thu
liberty to suggest those matter.
which 1t would seem the association
should consider.
From national standpoint we are
Interested first, in the existing federal
aid program and its application; Sec
ond, IN the Pacific Coast Defense
leagues proposed system of military
highways for the Pacific states; and
third, in probable legislation designed
to stabilize the labor situation in the
nation during the period of readjust-
ment after the war. The federal aid
matter Is linked with the state road
program in this country and through
out the state for that matter. OF its
application we know very little except
in the way of the preparation of appli-
cations and their progress and some
enlightenment is due The association
The Defense leagues plans for Pa
cific States highways of military val
ue is doubtless prompted BY desire
for comprehensive system of useful
and durable roads, both from mill
tary, a general public standpoint, and
doubtless will be weighed In any con-
sideration tho association may give
the problem of after the war" read
lustment. In connection with the
latter subject, attention is directed to
the advocacy by various interests OF
federal fostered employment of labor
during the transitory period from
purely war industrial activity to the
vocations of peace, Federal subsidy
will doubtless be sought in some form
by various lines of commercial activ-
ity, any one of which would be more
or less restricted in general interest
except in the expansion of the federal
aid program or the establishment OF
federal road system and it's improve
ment by the federal government
direct.
In matters depending upon the
state legislature we are interested in
the reapprOpriation of money now
available for expenditure on State
roads Nos. 4. 10 and 12 in this coun-
ty, but little of which will have been
contracted for or expended by the
time the next Legislature meets The
association should urge upon the sen.
ator and representative from this
county, the highway commission and
the governor, the necessity for secur-
ing reappropriation Of these funds tc
the purpose now in view and without
ENHANCEMENT with or consideration
of the disposition of public highway
tlrds for the following bienr;um.
Our interest in further appropria
tions of state funds for state high.
ways in this county will doubtless be
as strong as before and it would seer
should be directed along the line o.
securing a sufficient amount for com
pleting projects now surveyed ant
estimated
In this connection will logically fal
the consideration of the present one
mill levy and the consideration O
the plan proposed by the Thurstor
county road organization. to construc
ard hard surface all state road!
within a period of about six years.
The Thurston county plan has beer
given wide publicity. 1t proposes t.
bond the state for an amount sufficien
to complete the state road system will
hard surface pavements. Principa
and interest will be paid by an in
crease in the license fee on moto
cttff Hot rt ~
time. This matter will receive con
siderable attention at the state con
vention and should be thoroughly dis
cussed here and delegates instructe
as the association may deem best.
One important matter will depen,
upon the outcome of the general elec
ton, being the probable passage b.
the voters of the state of house Join
resolution No. 1. calling for a con
vention to revise the constitution O
the state. Road officials and organiza
tions throughout the state have view
ed this probable constitutional re
vision as an opportunity to establis
more efficient system of highwa
II tlC lSlcIcA u
the legislature should pass on No
vember 5th, our association should b
prepared to exert it's influence at tn
1 convention in a helpful, intelligen
manner and for that purpose insur
a proper representation from thi
county.
OF purely local interest under e,
listing laws and conditions, we hove {
urge the adoption of the propose
road district plan. The Decembe
meeting of the county commissioned
affords the most opportune time fc
this district revision to be made O
it is then the problem of revising vc
ing precinct boundaries is taken u
lit is advisable to adjust precint