The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-02-08
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
HAVE REGULAR MEETING
CONTINUED from Page one)

vide a way for the subSldlzatlon VI
the chamber of commences by coun-
tv governments, possibly to the ex-
tent that it may not become neces-
sary for members to pay more than
nominal dues. These are all Hum
boldt county matters.
The proposal to appoint CON
stable at Rebel Creek was preached,
| but decision was reached that such
an official is unnecessary, though
the presence of the justice OF the
peace there was said to be highly
desirable at times.
S. C. Durkee, division engineer
Of the state highway department,
under whose supervision viii come
the work on the Victory highway at
/ this point, appeared before the
board. He explained that last April
the board passed resolution to
| finance federal road projects IN
| this county, which were not at
tempted because al federal aid
funds had been previously spoken
| for. 1t is the intention of the high
way department to this year build
two sections of 'the road north
| 20 Paradise Hill, the only question
'emaining being the exact route of
he road Mr.. Durkee said he was
Tot in position to predict the out
come of the present agitation for a
hange in the road, but Chairman
Bell interposed with the information
| hat federal road man was to be
here today to go over the proposed
| -outes. Durkee went on to say that
in order to meet the federal aid re-
resolution similar to the one
passed a year ago showing that the
county is willing to pay the pro
alta of cost of road construction.
This must be done to get the federal
aid and if it is not done the federal
funds will in time revert to the
federal treasury and the opportunity
to construct roads largely at fed
aral expense will for the time be-
ng be lost. Such a resolution was
alter passed by the commissioners.
| Durkee proved to be an interest
ing man and shed considerable light
On the road problems of this county.
In fact, his pleasing personality
drew forth considerable barney
from the district attorney and
compliments flew thick and fast for
A few moments. Durkee said that
ne believed one thing that had
helped him in life was a disposition
to grant to others the. right of their
opinions. Somehow or other not
much was said by anyone for a
few moments.
| Durkee said that it is his opinion
hat preliminary estimates of the
costs of the road construction are
very high. This is probably done,
he said, to insure that the govern
1nent will provide adequate funds
It the first call to take care of
my sums that might be required il
he. estimate should be placed at
100 low figure. The estimate
for the road north was set at $751;
200, he said, but he believes that il
IAN be built for $4,000 less than
that figure. Commissioner Bell said
shat he believed that if the route
oy way of Willow Point is selected
hat the cost of the road will be
cut by one-hird. He proposed tax
ing a federal engineer over the
surveyed route to show him that
now would make travel thereon
| impossible at certain times. Dur
zee said the highway department
has been held down by federal men
n the matter of lengthening roads
to serve local needs, the federal men
insisting upon as straight a line as
| possible. He believed, however,
that the best plan is to go by way
| Of Toll House and Willow Point,
the route three and one-half miles
longer being contended for by resi-
dents of Paradise Valley. Durkee
also expressed himself as of opinion
that the route to DEMO appeared
to be long stretch of road of
practically no value to the state of
Nevada, and for himself he favored
routes that would serve localities
| rather than straight, short streaches
FOR the saving of miles for tourists.
| In that the route to Willow Point
would lenghthen the route only
three and one-half miles, and at the
same time would permit the partial
saving of road work already done,
ne favored that route.
Commissioner Bradshaw explained
that the Willow Point route would
aid a great proportion of the north
ern residents of this county.
In answer to a question of Com
missioner Norris, Durkee explained
that the government can insist that
the road, after built, must be prop
erly maintained by the state and
counties, and that after building
the government has no interest in
the road except to see that it is
kept in repair. The government
will supply no more funds for road
building on a road upon the cost of
which it has once participated, I'M
less the surface of such road be
changed. For instance, the govern
ment may force the county to keep
the roads in first class condition,
without further cost to the govern
ment, and the only way the govern
ment will spend more money on the
road after it is completed is to
share in the cost of changing the
gravel surface to one better, per-
haps concrete.
Reports of various county officers
were ordered accepted and filed, ap-
parently without even the formality