The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1867-05-31
NEXT Monday the Board Of super

NEXT Monday the Board Of super
yisors meet in regular session. There
arc many questions upon which they
should act not parsimoniously, but
in view o. the progress Of the county
in the way of public Improvements,
and the consequent necessity Of
making our means Of trade for our
selves and the public better and
safer, nor yet should their appro-
priations for these objects he made
in a prodigal manner. The high
ways of the county are for the pub
lie benefit, and any great and extra
ordinary expense in their construc-
ton or repair, should be borne by
the public.
1t is true additional taxes will be
thereby incurred, but the public
and private benefits to be derived
will amply compensate for all these.
Besides the money laid out for pub
lie improvements, instead Of being
thrown away for temporary good,
will be and remain present bcnc-
fit not only to day but for years in
the future.
But especially is it true that the
bridges of the county should be con-
structed generally by the whole
county. There are many reasons
for this, first the number Of settlers
in the county is so limited as to alb
solutely require all their road-tax
to keep the roads in repair without
attending to bridges over the heavy
streams.
And in the second place if it is
not done by the county, thrcc-fourths
of all the real estate of the county
is exempt from any burden in their
construction. The most of the
lands of the county are owned by
nonresident land owners, who en-
tered them merely for speculation.
TO require or expect the settlers of
the county to build its roads and
bridges by voluntary contributions
Ct money or labor is unreasonable.
Perhaps the settler owns but a
single forty, yet in labor and money
he taxes himself to the extent of
many dollars, and is compelled to
do so to make the roads so that he
can get to and from market. Yet
for every dollar thus contributed
the eastern speculator reaps the
profit in the enhanced valuation of
i--- | -
surrounding the solitary forty of the
settler. Now what is to be done?
and what does policy demand?
What should be done is that the
roads and bridges of the county
should be constructed by the expense
of the county, thereby permitting the
non-rcsidents who own fully three
fourths of it, to aid in the construc-
ton of these much needed improve
mcnts. These western land owners
throng the east, living upon the in
tcre3t of Government bonds exempt
from taxation, the poor laborer here
making his land valuable while the
Spectator by the system that has
prevailed to great extent, has heen
free from any Of the burdens and
constantly reaping the profits. If
it were done by general levy of
tax upon the taxable property of the
county every interest would be re-
quircd to bear its just proportion.-
These eastern spectators are and |
for the past ten years, have held |
their land for high prices which are
obtained as improvements are made |
by the settlers. Let our supery;- |
sors then induce settlers, by improv-
ing the roads and bridges of the
county, and encourage sales by |
making taxes for public improve
mcnts so that non-residcnts will sell !
at reasonable prices.
The bridge at New Oregon and
the one at Granger now need i'm
mediate assistance, and besides
there are other bridges now needing
building or repairs. AS We write a
gentleman comessssin who has lost a
valuable horse near Geo. Tck's by
attempting to cross on one Of these
dilapidated affairs that disgrace our
county. Somebody should be re-
sponsible for these losses, and made
to pay. Besides there are other
similar structures that need immcdi-
ate aid from the county.