East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-09-22


and heartily supported the work. /
With a const tutional bond limitation
of 4 per cent there has been made
available for state expenditure, based
on the 1920, assessment $41, 1888, 800;
81, 500, 900 of this, under present laws,
must be used on the Roosevelt high
way provided the federal government
matches the same by February l.
1922. In the event of failure of the
I federal government to thus act in har-
mony with the state on the road nam
ed, the amount of fund restricted in
1 its use. as stated. will become or
could be made available for the gem
eral system.
Most Counties Bonded.
All OF the counties in the state. ex-
cept Harvey. Washington and Joseph
inc. have now bonded for road better
ment. Lane leads with So. 900. 900 and
the total county authorization is s21,-
297,944.
The constitutional limit of county
Indebtedness for road work is six per
cent, and the most of the counties
have reached it.
There is so much of interest in con-
nection with the improvement and
use of highways that an article devot-
ed to the subject may be almost in
definitely extended. for new and hlth-
erto new and unthought of phases are
continually presenting themselves.
Construction for modern highway
transportation is new and is not yet
Il fr,, ,1.,e e..
| mistakes have been made and others
will follow. but great Improvement is
I noticeable and will continue.
4 People Show Interest.
Il When the people commit themselves
\. to unusual or large Undertakings il is
4 natural for the interest to develop
and intensity as the projects progress
ThisGF especially true in public mat
\ ters that intimately concern large
\ percentage of the population. This
A tendency is very marked in the high
II way work. The interest of all e'asses
in our state is now so keen that in.
\ quiry and in some Instances demands
Il are daily occurrences. It is therefore
n not only natural but entirely proper
h that you should ask for the probable
\ status of the work at the beginning OF
\ 1925.
\ This can not be definitely answered
\ but, speaking in general terms, it may
4 be said that the roads are built on the
\ theory that they are worth more than
\ they cost and hence the benefits
\ should extend as widely as possible
4 and as quickly as can be reasonably
4 done. Our highways are built very
\ largely from proceeds of bond sales
\ The bond market now is not good The
4 interest rates for the state securities
4 for the past few months have been
4 from 5 1-2 to 3-4 per cent and some
4 what higher for county bonds. The
!, higher rate now demanded, however,
\ is not deemed sufficient reason to de-
/ lay the work. now well toward COM
] pieton on roads that are of first or
/ general importance. The depression
that IL reflected by the interest rate
points clearly to the need in our state
CT providing employment for labor. of
| Increasing the producing capacity so
clearly marked in communities whieh
have benefited by good roads already
built, ard Of attracting tourists who
are annually coming in increasing
numbers.
| Program Is Pushed.
/ The highway commission does not
Fciieve that the conditions that have
disturbed markets, lessened produc-
tion and depressed general business
now call for public expenditures on
state roads, but rather demand vigor-
Gus progress in'this public work, and
1.-THE commission believes this view is
common to all who are charged with
the work in hand and firmly supported
by he people.
The Pacific highway OF the end Of
the present year will probably be s5
per cent paved and 1t is planned that
the job will be finished by the end of
li922.
On the Columbia river highway,
with the possible exception of few
miles near Warrenton, the pavement
will be completed from Seaside TO The
I'ailes before the close OF 1921. The
surfacing Of the remainder as far as
Pendieton Is completed. with the ex-
lcepiion Of few miles near the Des-
chutes. which was finished In septesn- !.
her.