Nebraska advertiser., 1863-09-19
A Bridge Tax,


In another column will be found a call
from the County Commissioners for a
vote by the citizens of this county at the
ensuing election, for a tax of one mill OF
the dollar. for the purpose of erecting a
bridge across the Nemaha at or near
Longs bridge.
This bridge is one that every farmer
in the county is interested in having in
good order. Il is now impossible with
heavy teams. The consequence is freight
ers can afford to pay for corn % cts. cash
in Otoe county, while it is a drug here at
90 cents. The only trouble is one mill on
the dollar is not enough to mend this
bridge and make the road good. II re-
ally needs twice that mount. But it is
good as far as it goes. If we could have
that much appropriated every year, the
road could soon be put in excellent order
clear ont to the Blue. Il is a fact that
our citizens are already aware Of, that
this road is the. shortest and best of any
running from the river to Fl. Kearny.-
Wood, water and grass are found along
it in abundance. But for the want of a
couple of thousand dollars work, it is now
but little travelled. Our county, the fur
thest advanced in agriculture of any in the
Territory, should have an outlet for its
surplus Corn.
There is n way in which a road fund
might be obtained that would be ample to
finish this road 10 a very short time, and
that is for the Legislature this winter to
re-pass the law requiring a road tax of
So on each quarter section Of land. Let
the tax be paid in money, not work, and
be put in the hands of the County Treas
urer to constitute a road and bridge fund,
to be judiciOusly expended by the County
Commissioners. Ii is true there was
much complaint against the three dollar
road TAX while it existed. It was hard
on spectators who owned large quaint
ties of land-wild, uncultivaled land
and also on cur large farmerst-hose
who own several quarter sections, and
who are opening and improving large
farms. But the objection was that the
money was in greater part squandered-
that in some townships sup, ~rvisOrs got
all the money, and bridges were not built
and roads not mended. = Since the law
haSbeen repealed there has been much
complaint. Many are anxious for the
law to be again enacted as it was before.
But those who W much land of course
object. If, however, they could be as
sured that the money would be judiciously
expended, they would not only consent,
but would demand hat the law for the
So tax be re-enacted. Some of our far
mers would have 10 pay annually very
large sums of money. But if II was an.
nual!y expended to the best advantage
in improving roads; they would get their
money back, and interest an hundred
fold. Three dollars per quarter section.
if placed in a fund to be expended by
County Commissioners, would in a few
years build substantial. permanent bridges
all over the Territory.
Some might object to placing so much
money, ard so much patronage into the
hands of Commissioners. But we can
think of no more judicious manner of
expanding 1t. Commissioner are elected
BY the people, and represent three differ
ent sections of each county, and would be
likely 10 use the money where they BE-
lieved 1t would most benefit the whole
community. If they failed to %appropri-
ate the money TO the best advantage, the
people would have their remedy in the
ballot box.