The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-07-18
MERIDIAN FARMERS DISCUSS
ROADS AND ARROWROCK

n SOOu SlZeu duulence was present
Wednesday night at the Meridian
theatre, to discuss the advisability Of
an independent highway district for
the Meridian section. While the meet
ing did not go on record as favoring
such an organization, later on liz the
season, the matter may be taken up
again.
S. H. Grondahl acted as chairman
and A. D. Stanton as clerk of the
meeting. The chairman held that the
Meridian section and especially the
country to the south of Meridian,
had not received its share in good
roads building, and that territory
nearer Boise enjoyed superior mac
adam roads, even for the cross sec
tions.
Ex-County Commissioner E. F..
Crawford spoke of the disadvantage
of a highway district would be at, If
bond issue were voted by the
county and this started a discussion
as to the merits and demerits of an
Independent organization.
o. Soucie, one of the sponsors of
district at Kuna had been successful
and that they controlled and used on
their roads much more money than
when in the hands of the county
commissioners. The highway district
has 95 per cent of the road money
paid in county taxes in the district,
and in addition can vote bonds for
road work. Last year the road levy
was tic on the $100 valuation, out
of $3.96 as the total county levy in
Meridian village and $2.46 for the
territory in the rural high school dis
trict outside of Meridian village. The
point was made that the 17c per
500 valuation would not raise
very big fund
The main idea of those faVoring an
organization, would be to provide
that the farmers in the district would
have exclusive control of the build
ing of all highways, and not depend
on someone living near Boise to de-
eide on what construction should be
made in this territory.
Attorney Harry S. Kessler of Boise
was present and gave valuable in
formation as to the legal points in
volved. Asked directly if he thought
a highway district would be advis-
Bile at this time, Mr.. Kessler did not
give direct answer. The whole
matter seemed to be complicated by
the probable effect of separate or
ganization, if the proposed million
dollar bond issue is voted by Ada
county. Legally the independent
highway district would have no
claim on any part of this money, and
we would pay our part of the
$4,000 interest on the bonds, and
we would depend on the generosity
of the county commissioners to al
low a portion of the money to be
expended here, If we had an indie
pendent road district. When the
100000 former bond issue was car
ried, the Kuna district was allow
ed" sum for trunk line leading
south from Meridian to Kuna.
Opposition developed in the meet
ing to expenditure for the Arrow
rock highway out of the proposed
million dollar bond money. Dave Far
mer, 7. A. Allen and others voiced
their opposition. Jack Garrett stated
that future legislature could take
care of the Arrowrock road and then
get the help of the dollar-for-dollar
government aid A. v. Tallman
bhOu6ilb hONSfCl .JLeaI bllC oldtS ht6l-
way commission had no plans along
this line and that the road would be
built by the county if built at all
during the next few years.
While the meeting developed
friendly sentiment toward the efforts
of the Boise people to build scenic
route to Arrowrock, 1t was the de-
cided opinion that, the bond money
should be used principally, on the
county roads in the farming districts.
Attorney Kessler suggested that an
effort be made to have the county
commissioners describe in their call
for the bond election the amount of
money to be voted and the particular
places where the money would be
spent. For instance So much for
roads radiating from Meridian, and
other center POINTS in the country
districts, and also how much will be
spent on the Arrowrock highway.
In pursuance to this the meeting
adjourned with the appointment of
a committee of five, consisting of
. Ed Crawford, A. D. Stanton, Dave
Farmer, Orie Soucie, and T. A. Allen,
to wait on the commissioners and Sc
cure information along this line. The
committee will report at another
meeting to be held in a few days.