The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-10-14

TO rebuild bridge at Pulling NJ Run lUu.oR
To Lords Factory 1,5lO.O1
To bridge Big Elk at SCOTS Mills 1,O0O.0o
Total extra levy for bridges S3,345SD
The first three bridge items named are 10
complete what was begun by our rredcccs-
sOrS, and we had no choice in regard to them;
the rebuilding OF the bridges at the Pulling
Mill Run and Lord 5 Factory were also mat
tcrs of necessity, the old ones having become
dangerous and liable to fall when teams were
crossing and thus likely to subject the coun-'
ty to heavy damages. For the bridge at
SCOTS Mills-whcrc the creek is deep and
dangerous, and where the travel has largely
increased and is ilIcrcasin;-(as well rs for
the rebuilding OF the one ut I.ord'S) the Leg
slature had passed an Act authorizing lis
erection; the petition for it was uumerously
signed and the interests Of the public de-
handing it, we did not deem it our duty to
reject their petition, but lcvicd for its cree
ton the sum OF $ 1000.
For the building of this bridge and the re-
building Of that ut Lords Factory, we have
contracted with Mr.. Ferdinand Wood an cx-
perrnccd bridge builder; first letting the
masonry, for which his bids were far brlbw
any competitor, and after u second advcr-
tiSement, letting the wood work; which part
Of the work on both the bridges together, Mr..
John Donahoo proposed to do for SGO less
than Mr.. Wood, but as the proposals of the
latter included an extension of twenty addi-'
tional teet-live feet at each end Of each
bridge-morc than the proposals Of the
former, thus better protecting THE abtt,ncnts
and the ends Of the tmbcrs, the contract was
let to him as the lowest bildcr;-bcsidc which,
his were the only proposals specifying tllr
sizes Of the timbcrs to be used, &c, as re-
qured by the advertisement. The prices to-
be paid for building these bridges, the ma.
sorry very heavy and substantial, the wood
work of great strength and best manner %
workmanship, and the entire entertainments
at the ends included, is: for the bridge at
Lords 81 ,S2j; at SCOTS 81 ,375. IF we SAC
coed in having these bridges finished accord
ing to contract, Of which we have no doubt,
they will have no equals in the county in re-
gard to fitness and permancncy.
Another item which VIZ had of necessity to
include in the levy. is d balance of $500 for
collectors Of the last two years, who had not
in their LANDS sufficient sums to pay the
amounts required by their duplicates and
special orders.
On the strength of petitions hunlcrously
signed, and from Il knowledge of the impor-
lance of such Il work to succeeding County
Commissioners in dcte rminmg the propricty
of proposed new roads--who will thus by its
aid be able to save many times its cost-wc
have levied the sum Of $500 for Il complete
and exact survey and map of all the Pubic
Roads i'll the COUNTY, which labor has brcm
undertaken by James McCaulcy, ESD, who,
in connection with this plot Of the roads, will
make for general sale, map Of the county.
laying down the roads, streams Of water,
towns and farms, several copies Of which lie
is, also to furnish the public Offices.
We have thus rchcarsed some OF; the un-
usual charges which We lave been obliged to-
include in the Levy Of the present year, and
which alone have led to the heavy taxes. By
an examination it will be seen that most of
them were beyond our control; that large
amount of Them were entailed CIV va by our
prcdcccssors;-to whom We 10 not mean to-
attach any ccnsrrc, but merely to state the
tact--anu the part thereof which was within
our discretion. seemed to us to be required
by our duty rs guardians, in these respects.
of the public interests and thus to claim at
tcntion with equally imperative demand.
The recapitulation Of these unusual charges
is AZ follows -
On the Aims House account rs here
mbcfore summed up, S2G30.4r
For 4 months Road repairs, 29l4.OO'
For Road Damages 5.65l.UO
For Bridges, 3,3l5.8D
For balances due collectors, 50O,OW
For Map Of Public Roads, 10000
Or, an Aggregate of Sl4.74l.2l
The total amount of the Levy for 1854 is
S42 ,GS7 07; the above sum of Sl4 al u be-
ing deducted tllerctrom leaves So ,945!S6,
which would have been the amount of the
levy for this year, but for the unusual charg-
cs; and that amount-by leaving the balance
to meet nsolvcncies and incidental expenses
5000 less, which could have been spared
thcrctrom-woud onl% have rcqnited coun-
ty tax OF 80 cents in the s, roo
Comparisons of the county taxes OF the
present with those Of other years, have been
made, and doubtless Will still be made by
persons interested in doing so, to the disad-~
vantage of the present County Commission
crs; We may therefore, with propriety makc,,
in this Report, as incidental to the subject,
such a comparison as is warranted by the
facts and figures; taking the last year, (the
only one since the new asscssment,) as our
example.
The amount of the Levy last year was
S3l ,lS6.u9, and the county tax was A. cents
in the 500. We have shown that but for UT
usual expenses 80 cents in the 500 would
have been the rate of tax this year; or, q
cents in the 500 less than last year. But to-
the S3l 1860 levied last year, $4,000 re-
ccivcd from the Railroad Company, anu cx-
pended by the late Commissioners in add-
ton to that raised by the tax Of Is cents im
the Sl00, is also to be added, making an ag-
grcgatc Of SAB, 1868; to have raised which
sum would have required a county tax of SO
to suppose the inhuM of that railroad money
led to any unnecessary expenditure on the
part of the County Commissioners sucha tax
was virtually imposed on the people by talk
ing that sum, which, if uncXpended then,
would subsequently have decreased their
taxes to an equal amount So we sec that,
in fact, the county tax in 1853 was cents in
the 500 more expensive to the people than
the county tax of 1854, all the Levy counties;
and "A cents in the $500 higher, dcductng
the unusual charges We have enumerated.
And fthc sums expended last year and those
growing Immediately out thereof, which ought
to have been provided for last year, but which
have been crowded into the present year.
as will appear fuop.the statements
hcrcinbctore given, to- aboht 81 400. 0O-had
been then levied, it would have required last
year an additional tax of | cents in the 500
to have raised that additional amount; and
this IL cents added to the G3 cents in the
500, which we have shown was the actual
amount expended, would have made the
county tax for 1853, "A cents in the 500; or,
A cents in the Sl00 hisher than in 1854, tlpc
whole levy counted. But VIC have shown
that the taxes for the present year, except
for extraordinary charges, would have been
but 80 cents in the 500; or. IS cents less than