The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-03-26
The Bridge Bonds and the New Law

The Bridge Bonds and the New Law.
The effect of the new bond law as set
forth bv us last week, and Its applica-
ton to the pending bridge and Jail
propositions. seems not TO be properly
understood by many of our readers.
Desiring only to be fair, and that the
taxpayers of Sedgwick may under
stand thoroughly our status under the
operations OF the new law We will
again set out the matter together with
few figures in form of a simple state
ment without argument:
The new general law ia reference TO
bond voting, and registration o. bonds
which took effect on the 18th inst
limits the amount of bonds to be voted
for any purpose 10 five per cent. on the
taxable property of any county, incla-
siyc of all prior indebtedness. /, pro-
vides further that t~o-ihird vote
shall be necessary to carry any bonds.
That no injustice might be done, lie
new law further provides that the pro-
visions of the act should in no wise at-
feet pending propositions or bonds
already voted but not delivered.
BY majority vote, then, Sedgwick
county can legally carry the pending
bridge and Jail propositions at the
spring election, while a two-third vote
would be necessary at any time here
after unless the new law should be re-
pcaled.
The taxable property of Sed.wick
county, according TO the county clerk $
books. in 1870. amounted TO 100000,
in round numbers, and in 1873 to ST.
100000, showing an annual increase of
nearly 100000. The bonded debt Of
Sedgwick county at this time is $l4i,-
600. Now. the amount of property
necessary under the new law to cover
present bonded Indebtedness would
have to be s., 900, or little over
double that shown by the last levy.
Taking the ratio Of increase for the
mast as an earnest Of the future it will
be readily seen that in the failure of
the present proposition (which the
new law does not abate-it Will be
four or five years before we can lawful
Iy vote such an amount as is set out IN
the pending proposition, and then only
by "A two-third vote. After our levy
reaches $4,000, 900 then $1,000 in bonds
can be voted for each additional $780,
600 valuation. Or, after five years,
with the same ratio of increase we
would be able to again submit prop
osition OF like amount which two
third vote would ratify. We hope the
statement submitted will be compre-
hended by both sides.
As to the probable increase OF taxa
ton. should the present bonds carry,
basin" the calculation upon the III
crease of former lcvys, the taxes for
bridge bonds in 1873 would be ) mills
In 1876 not TO exceed , l-2 mills; IN
1873 81 TO , mills, on each dollar :
valuation returned by the assessors.
The advocacy of aud the opposition to
the bridge bonds are not based upon
personal and sectional interests. appa-
reutly, SO much as upon judgment OF
individuals rs to the wiscst policy. We
find men in Wichita holding approx
innate values in property and of about
the same business qualification and 81
gaciiv. for and against the bonds, So
with men from all sections of the coun-
try. We have met men, even from The
west side of the river. who pay toll to
the amount twenty or forty times
greater than their tax would be, who
are opposed TO the bonds, while other
OH this side who seldom cross The
bridge are in favor of the bonds a. d
necessity for the future rapid develop
mcnt of our county. Others oppose al
bonds from principle.
We can but respect the honest posi-
ton of one and all without giving al
idea as to the final result, which We
think upon the whole will be close;
than is apprchcnded 10y most of th'
people of the county.