The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-02-12
BEN BUSH BOOSTS
FOR BETTER ROADS
PROMINENT CITIZEN OF MOSCOW
GIVES INTERVIEW TO LEWIS
TON PAPER

Modest Ben Bush, who could not
be induced to talk for publication on
any subject at home, gave an inter-
view to the Lewiston Tribune on the
good roads situation in Latah county,
that is full of interest to the people
here. The Tribune story follows:
Good roads work is the outstand-
ing matter now receiving the atten-
tion of the people of Latah county,
and more than that the plans pro-
vide for highway construction on an
extensive scale. This is shown in a
review of conditions as made by Ben
Bush of Moscow, yesterday. Mr..
Bush was in Lewiston from Moscow
en- route to Boise, where he goes in
connection with appointment of high
way commissioners for the Genesee
highway district which was created
by vote Saturday. Mr.. Bush resides
in Moscow but he has farm interests
in the Genesee highway district and
is therefore directly interested in the
work to be carried out there. He
came here to confer with E. A. Cox,
attorney for the district.
The creation of the Genesee high
way district" said Mr. Bush, 'is to
U0 IOllOW0u NY luG CIcdLlOA VI IiiO
Moscow highway district No. g. The
election to create the latter district is
called for Feb "a and | am sangu1ne
that the sentiment is such the step
will be authorized by an overwhelm-
ing vote. This district will embrace
about 10000 acres and within its
boundaries is the city of Moscow.
The assessed valuation of the terri
tory will probably be about $6,OO0,-
000 The district will extend north
to Viola, east to Joel, west to the
Washington line, the other boundary
Joining with the Genesee district On
Feb. IA, the people of the Thorn
creek section of the county will vote
to create a district there. This dis
trict will extend west from Genesee
$ to the state line, north to Moscow and
east and south from Moscow to the
Genese district. 1t is also probable
that the people of the Potlatch sec
tion will organize for in fact the peo-
pie of the Palouse river locality have
already started the movement. 50
you see Latah county is in the good
road movement on big scale and
each step is an understanding Ane
We have finally learned that the way
to get good roads is to build them
We have also learned to understand
the value of the district plan, where
the property owner is able to see the
direct immediate results of his outlay
on roads for these roads are essen
TALLY in his own locality and are USED
by him constantly. These smaller
units of road operation also enable
better results to be secured for tne
money expended, because the admin
istration is directly carried on by ones
own neighbOrs and there is Opportu
nity for consultation and understand
ing that would be impossible where
the territory is larger, the interests
are different and there are so many
conflicting ideas to serve. The coun-
ty plan of road administration
throughout the years is man1festly
failure for after all these. years there
was not a single good road in tne
state. showing that each county was
unable to solve the problem. On the
other hand since the era OF good
highway district, we hear OF good
roads wherever such highway dis
tricts exist, and we see them ana
travel them with joy.
"Another point that has impressed
me-" continued Mr.. Bush, "is this: 1t
Is Of no material value to Lewiston
and this section of the state that the
Lewiston Hill highway is built un-
less good roads to the north connect
with it, Similarly, it would be OF no
material value in the larger sense Tor |,
Latah county people to build a good
highway to the top of Lewiston Hill
unless the highway down the hill was
nrovided. In other words communi-
ties. districts, counties and states
should work toward the end of unit
ing their highways and should build