The Road Less Traveled: Seattle’s Shameful Contrast with Victoria’s Fine Highways

OUR PUBLIC ROADS.

A traveler coming hither from Victoria, or going from here there, is struck with the contrast presented in the matter of public roads. The turnpike between Victoria and [Victoria] is probably the finest short drive and most beautiful road on the coast, and Victoria duly appreciates it. With easy gradients, broad sweeping curves, always firm road bed, alike free from mud and dust, and opening up ever-changing vistas of picturesque landscape, it is the pride and delight of the provincial capital.

And it is said that just as good roads as this extend for twenty-five miles from Victoria in every direction and far away into the interior. In this matter our neighbors set us an example worthy of imitation as far as practicable. One of the first requisite to the rapid settlement and business development of a country is good roads. The military highways of ancient Rome built up and held together the great commercial empire for which her pikes and broad swords pioneered the way. In our age the ax and rifle have taken the place of the Roman spear and cutlass in hewing out a pathway for empire, but roads are as essential now as then, if not more so.

Our county roads are not what they should be. It may be that the fault is with the system. The statute provides that the Board of County Commissioners shall assess a road and property tax of not less than two nor more than five mills on the dollar; and it is optional in all cases to pay the amount in work at the rate of two dollars per day. This lieu provision answers very well in the earliest stages of pioneer development, when roads are a necessity and exigencies of the settlers ensure a kind of volunteer enthusiasm in the matter. But when passable ways have been once brushed out, a great many of the less energetic are content with 'well enough,' and shirk all they can, and lieu work with its bother and clumsiness, becomes mainly a farce. Hence the wretched and backward condition of most of our older county roads.

We are not aware that there is a road district in the county with the possible exception of Seattle, that even owns a scraper or has ever used one.

The taxes should be ample enough to make this branch of public enterprise a prominent interest. The tax should be collected in cash—the proper medium for discharging such debts to the best advantage. Its expenditure should be by contract under the most rigid specifications and precautions to secure good faith to the county and to the workmen.

Our beach road should be a thoroughfare second to none on the northern coast for commodiousness and solidity. Investments made in this kind of improvement though not directly productive are yet indirectly among the most remunerative that can be made. Business receives an impetus from every advance in this direction that is made.