The Great Chehalis Road Debate

As you have invited any one who is interested in the question of bonding the county to build roads to give their views, I avail myself of the privilege. To commence, I would express myself as not in favor of the present proposition. Roads should be built to develop our agricultural lands and encourage settlement, not for the benefit of any particular town. To sow $224,500 broadcast on the roads of this county would be the height of folly. When the money is spent, we will find that we have only a lot of muddy trails, which will be impassable for a team with a loaded wagon for more than half the year.

There is no question but that there should be a good road built into the interior of the county from tide water. The Hoquiam river to Quinault Lake is one such needed route. It is of little use to think of building roads through the dense forests of the lower part of the county without plank or gravel. Plunk is cheap, keeps its place well, and lasts a good many years. If such a road were built to Quinault Lake, a development of that country would be sure to follow that would benefit the whole county. It does not seem necessary, in order to build one or two much-needed roads, that every part of the county should come up and demand as good a one. Roads should be built where they are most needed, where there are no water ways or other means of transportation.