The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-12-22

have cost hundreds of thousands of
dollars. In this weeks Glacier we
reprint brief item from the White
Salmon Enterprise, wherein a road
supervisor tells of the destruction
wrought by overloaded motor trucks
hauling apples. Our county y'court met
the local situation wisely last fall
when they inaugurated a loading
schedule. Their problem. however,
was made easy by ideal weather condi-
tions. County courts should be given
unlimited power for the preservation
of county thoroughfares, and this
power should be backed by legislative
machinery for its enforcement. The
State Highway Commission should be
given similar authority over state
highways. In his message to the leg
islature Governor Olcott said:
81 turn to a matter which / deem
of paramount Importance to the well
fare Of the state. That is the neces-
sity for additional Legislation to pre-
serve our highways from destruction.
The weight of loads and speed of mo-
tor trucks have been giving gravest
concern to every person who has been
interested in the highway situation.
Not alone is this a matter of gravity
as it affects our hard-surface highways
important as it may be in that connec-
ton. But throughout the state lighter
types of surfaces, such as macadam |
and gravel, are being damaged almost |
irreparably by heavy motor trucks |
passing over them. Frequently these |
lighter surfaces are constructed by |
small road districts which expend the
limit, or near the limit, of their taxing
power to construct lateral and market
roads and occasionally they see such
roads wrecked by no more than one or
two trucks. | may add that in my
mind these lateral and market roads
are Of most vital importance-thev very
arteries that carry the life's blood to
)ur state.
81 respectfully call your attention
hat the saving Of one mile of highway
would more than cover the expense Of
his session of the legislature. We are I
pending millions for roads. We must {
axe proper precautions to protect
hem from early destruction. To have |
waited another regular session before
this matter might have j
leant many hundreds of thousands of I
ollars in destruction otherwise pre-
Involved in the problems confront
* US is the matter of restricting
eights and speeds of trucks without il
lthlessly interfering with or destroy fl
lg agricultural and industrial enter C
rise. n
Primarily the roads are made for a
indIing the products of our people. d.
and fundamentally these
e the farmers roads, over which p
ey take their produce to the market n
nters. We never should lose sight rt
that fact. The roads are built for in
eh men as the farmer, particularly tt
e market roads, and his interests cI
lst be subserved. Any Legislation
acted should take into full account B
ls fact. / believe legislation may be al
olved which will protect his interests M
well as the roads. pr
Further, in connection with our
shways system, | submit to you the in
cessty for proper regulation cover m
I passenger busses and other motor ST
nlcles operating for hire on our pub W
highways. These vehicles have of
e use of the expensive roadwavs vc
lch are being constructed in all B'
It's of the state. 1t is right and just 10
only that they be subjected to pa
per regulation, but that they pay 'N
I and fair share of the revenue re- is
red to maintain such road. Nj