Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-03-24
From the vlnton Record.
TurnpilSes.

SUI uCO udChWIullLCu IOuuS III lnJ)u
county, aud that he has presented pc
titlOns from citlzens of the county
asking that the bill become a law. On
the same Cay, Mr.. DUNCAN, of Jackson
county, presented remonstrance from
citizens of this county against the bill
The rumors afloat as to the object
and provisions of the bill are such as
render It almost certain to meet OBJ
jections. One. rumor Is that ev-
cry person owning land within one
mile OF the line of any road is to be
taxed Is per cent OF the value Of his
land, and those within two miles and
beyond one mile to be taxed 10 per
cent. on the value of their farms An
other rpmor is a6oat that the chattel
property is to escape taxation entirely |
that the farms alone are to bear the |
burden. / do not pretend to say what |
understanding of the matter, or what |
misunderstanding, those persons have
who are opposing the measure, but
understand the bill as drafted by the
committee appointed by our citizens,
1t provides for the construction Of
Macadamized roads from Macarthur
to the eastern boundary of the county
ON the State road leading to Athens,
or as near the same as practicable;
also to the northern boundary of the
county, either to MtPleasant or Ply
mouth, leaving the route discretionary
with the Commissioners, bug the road
to be located us near as practicable on
the road-'now leading to Logan ria
Plymouth or MtPleasant; also to the
southern boundary ria of Hamden on
or near the Nc Arthur and jackson
road, or, if the Commissioners shall be
of opinion that the interests of the
county require it, this road may be
constructed uia Macarthur Station and
Eagle Furnace to Wilkesyillo; also to
the west line OF the county, The OBJ
iect being to grade and Macadamize
the several State roads mentioned, the
commissioners to have the authority
to alter and straighten the roads as
economy and the public interest may
require.
Every one admits that It would be a
great benefit to our farmers and busi-
ness men to have good State roads
running across the county as indicated
but whence the funds?
The bill provides that the Commits
sioners shall cause estimates to be
made of the cost of construction, and
that they shall cause a special dupli-
cate to be made of all the lands, in
cluding in-lots and out-lots in towns
and villages, lying within two miles Of
the line Of roads located, and also of
all lands within one mile of the lile
of road Then, as to paying costs of
construction, fifteen per cent. is to be
levied upon the lands within one mile
and ten per cent. upon the lands with
in two miles and beyond one mile of
the road, the remaining seventy-fve
per cent, ofcost to be levied upon the
general duplicate OF the county. The
bridges on the several roads to be
built as at present, and paid for out Of
the bridge fund of the county. The
bill further provides for the costs OF
construction to be extended over pc
riod OF five years; it provides that the
levy ON the special duplicate each
= year shall he such part of the entire
levy on that duplicate as the road ac-
tually contracted for reconstruction that
year is of the whole road.
The bill guards carefully the rights
of citizens along the line, and pro-
vldes for the adjustment and payment
Of any and all damages by reason Of
any alteration or change in the pres
emt road; it provides for the issue Of
bonds but only to a limited amount; (;
1t provides for the commissioners ac-
cep.ing donations in money and prop
erty for the construction OF said roads
or either Of them. Now, however inn
perfect the bill may be in technical
form or substance, If our people are
really In favor Of the enterprise, let
them By proper petition indicate their
wishes to the General Assembly and
they will give us law which will ac-
complsh what we desire.
But the trouble seems to be that
men would like bread without sweat,
and blessings without labor or money,
One says 10 per cent. is too higlr on
the first mile; another says 1t isn't
high enough, and the chattels On the
line ought to be taxed, another says
let the tax be general on the whole
county, while another fellow who lies
Just one rod over two miles from the
road, says let the lands within two
miles pay the expenses as under ;he
present law. The truth is, it is yer,
difficult to please everybody.
Suppose this bill becomes q law
and thereupon road is located from
MtPleasantto Wilkesville, the distance
thirty miles; the tract of land with
in one mile on either side contains 60
sections or 3s,4OO acres Of land, Over
two hundred acres of this Will be town
lots.
Say the road costs $4,000 per mile
and we have $4,000 to pay--of this Is
per cent. or $ll,250 must be paid by
the land owners along the route with
In one mile OF the line, and ten per
cent. or $7,6O0by the land owners be-
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