Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-05-21
. OUR OWN FFA IRIS.

The political campaign will open up
in our own County before many weeks,
and Wishing to enter into it with the
praise and blame due from past acts
resting upon the proper shoulders, we
propose to lay a few facts before the
people for their consideration. We do
notanticipate the opposition met with,
enc year ago, for our Democratic
friends can no longer conceal their vul-
nerable points by official masks. They
can no longer return our charges of ex-
travagance with cries of ''falseh ood, :"
misrepresentation" and the like
The books are now in our possess on,
and, thank fortune, order is coming
out of chaos, and our unofficial state
ments of twelve months ago are more
than verified by official records. The
surprising announcement that the War
mock pike would cost S57, 200 or more
one year ago was deemed unworthy of
credence. Who will deny it now !?
When the fact was heralded throughout
the County nine months ago, that the
Indebtedness of the County was $50, 900,
our Democratic leaders took occasion
to denounce the assertion as an unmiti-
gated falsehood gotten up for mere
political effect, and even went so far as
to issue a secret circular denying it.
When the Auditor now asserts the
Indebtedness of the County to be s104,-
600, and is issuing bonds to pay it,
will the Statements made during the
last campaign be regarded false? ?
That many Of the Democrats of the
County believed the Treasury TO be in
a better financial condition than it. was,
we do not, doubt. They had yet to
learn the dishonesty of t'1ose who
might have known the true condition
ofour finances. That the organ of the
party, the Gazette, knew, we do not be-
lieye. ;. It's editor was simply. a tool in
the hands of a more intelligent clique
who wished to stave off the facts and
prevent any one from prickfng the bag
and showing its emptiness. Itwas the
aim Of those more deeply involved in
this recklessness to keep the boat from
the rocks while they had control, and
when at the point Of wrecking, give il
over into Republican hands and foist
upon them the blame. This latter eff
fort we shall combat.
Next month there falls due and mus
belpaid in, bonds or otherwise abou
$4,000; upon the full Indebtedness O
the County to be paid in such install
ments as the Commissioners shal
direct, there must be paid annually a
interest 5000. The BRIDGE fund alon,
is now in debt $65, 900 and no provision
for payment. Does not the Board O
= Commissioners deserve special notict
for its method of handling the funds 0
the County? We give one instance
In 1869 a law was passed, requiring ths
payment of the cost of building bridge
upon pixies, to be made from the Coun
ty bridge fund. The cost of said bridge
up to the time of the last assessment b,
the Commissioners was over $50, ,000.-
This Board of Commissioners made
levy of ,one-half mill for the bridg
fund at the last levy and immediatel,
made preparations for disbursing sun
equal to seyen-tenths of mill upon tn
dollar. Why did they do this? Al
important political contest was cominI
on and in order to make the taxes 70
the year 1871 appear as light as possible
this trifing per cent was levied leavin,
adebtof So, 900 unpaid and no funds t.
pay it. If itwas not political trici