Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-09-17
City Election on the
18th September.
To Me Qualified Voters Of Cl@kspille

sold or disposed of at less than 80 cents in the
81 co. These bonds are to be issued from time
to time as the City Council may determine.
The streets thus proposed to be constructed
are the following;
College street, from Spring to the Eastern
boundary line of the city.
Commerce, from Third to Seventh.
Union, from Commerce to Eastern boundary.
Washington, from Water to Norfeet.
Williams, from Water to Eastern boundary.
Water, from College to Southern boundary.
Spring, from Union to Williams.
First, from Strawberry alley to Marion, and
from Union to Southern boundary.
Second from Marion to lower Red River
bridge, and from Union to Southern boundary.
Those of you who desire to authorize the is
suance of said bonds will deposit ticket with
the words Street Improvement" thereon; those
not SO desiring will deposit TICKET with the
words "No Street Improvement 1t is desir
able that all of you should vote so that we may
have full expression of public sentiment
CHARLES NJ. HITTER, Mayor
THE UNDERSIGNED have been instructed
to present brief statement of the objects and
views of the City Council of GAINESVILLE in pre-
sentIng for your ratification or rejection, the
proposition for the issuance of the bonds of the
city for the amount and purposes named in the
Mayors proclamation of this date.
The council looked to the fact that the ship
ping interest of Clarksville is very important,
and that there is but one route to the river, and
that circuitous and of difficult grade, have
deemed it their duty to legislate for the adj
vancement of that interest, and hence, in the
proposed streets, have named College, Commerce,
Union, Water and Second, from Marion to Low.
err Red River bridge, the last to be made above
high water mark
They are also convinced that many wOrkmen
of industry and skin, while desiring to settle
here are prevented therefrom by the impossi-
blity of procuring dwellings, and that many
homes would be built if it were not for the fact
that nearly all our improved streets whereon
vacant lots are to be had, are nearly impass.
able that extra prices have TO be paid for fire.
wood and other necessities when delivered
thereon. Ccnceiving it to be their duty to en-
deavor to induce population, capital and skill to
locate here, rs well as to benefit those owning
and residing thereon, they have included in
their list Washington, Williams, and all the
other named streets penetrating Roberts Add-
ton and the northern extremities of First and
Second
The council anticipate the day at an early
date when the railroad depot will be great
radiatng centre of the city, and thinking that
easy REORGANIZATION between this and all
other sections Of GAINESVILLE is expedient now,
and will be absolutely demanded at the COM
petion of the railroad, they have presented the
names of Spring Water, Washington, Williams,
and the southern end of First and Second streets,
thinking that so ne of those should be construct
ed for all the reasons adduced.
As to the cost Of the proposed improvements,
the committee have no exact data, but think
that the length of all these streets will aggre-
gate say six miles, which, os the excavation of
one will be the fill of anoth r, they estimate at
an average of $1,000 90 per mile, or $4,000. O0
in all. As the bonds will not be disposed OF
at a greater discount, real or nominal, than 70
per cent, add oue-fOurth, and We have the total
of say S52 10000 in bonds, which will be issued
from time to time as favorable contracts can be
made or the bonds negotiated at not less than
the minimum. But if all the bonds be issued
mt once the entire interest thereon will be
S3, 100 90 per annum. A sinking fund out OF
the ordinary revenue of 1000 dolls. yearly would
more than pay off the bonds at maturity. Then
the total cost per annum would he a, 40 dolls
In ten years, by making streets and from other
causes, at the same rate of tax, your annual
revenue has increased from 1000 TO $4,000 dolls
If in ten years, by few improvements, made
at long intervals, your taxable property has in
creased 800 per cent in value, We may safely
assume that in five years by general system
Of internal mprovements-the same cause oper-
ating in a greater degree-yOur annual revenue
will increase rs per cent. This would give a
revenue OF u, 600 year-which in three years
would pay off the face Of the bonds besides pay
ing the current city expenses.
Can Clarksville incur the expense of this i'm
provement? Your railroad debt is met by an
annual tax, and as the interest paid on the bonds
probably becomes the individual stock or legal
tender for passage freight charges on the rail
read, this cannot be considered, except as an
outlay for mutual benefit; for what would be
your present value Of property if the railroad
had been built n few miles north or south OF
Clarksvile? This debt then is not TO be con-
sideIed, especially as probably the debt can be
paid of by the dividends and sale of the stock
after the road is in running order.
As to the bridge bonds the tolls on the bridge
will more than meet them, and when the bonds
are discharged the bridge becomes n source OF
of handsome revenue to the city. And no fur
Their tax to pay for this Improvement can be an
ticipated because we see the ability to pay the
expense without any difficulty out Of the present
revenue, and besides, by the charter, no increase
Of the tax rate can be made unless by vote Of
the qualified voters it is authorized, So You
have this matter in your own hands.
Then the only debt is the old debt of about
5000 dolls, which with the proceeds of sale Of
the city property held speculatively could be
nearly eXtinguished at once, and the balance
could easily be met out of the current revenue
Your present annual revenue is 10000 dolls
your executive and police expenses are $500
your street repairs and miscellaneous expenses
are about 4,OOO-which, deducted, leaves an an
nual balance of $500 out of which to pay the
yearly cost Of the proposed Improvement to-wit
1920 dollars.
As to the effects; il you increase your popu
lation in.fye years 80 per cent, and add more
to your capital and producing ability who car
estimate the impetus which will be given Il
every commenced or anticipated department o
tradc and manufacture? We think this projec
win tend 10 give that increase
We have hcen compelled to touch the points
in this general manner; not having space fol
details CT incidentals.
WM, WARE,
T. NJ. DUFF,
=. : BEAUMONT, C,,..,,,,,
o, NJ. BLACKMAN, commune