The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-03-24
VANLUE. o., March 10, 1876.

EDITOR JEFF. That pike question
has elicited many words, both pro and
con, from our citizens. But the most
that have seen in print, in reference to
it, has been in favor of it. Whether this
ie on account of self interest, or some
other motive, l am not prepared to say
But let us notice some of the ideas and
plans advanced by those ''pikeists."
One, in answer to the objection to
high taxes resulting from building the
pixies, says. Ito build one hundred miles
of pixies" seemingly costs large sum,
but to divide this burden so as to pay it
in ten, fifteen or twenty years, the
amount would be so small that the tax
payers would hardly feel it.
Another proposes building ten or fif-
teen miles per year at the expense of the
bridge, building and tuition funds, and
be happy.
Others, not satisfied with, what we
know about pixies" have interviewed
some Hardin countyites, and we have
their word for il, that real estate along
the pixies In that county, has increased in
value from $40 to SIS per acre. Now,
sum up. One hundred miles of stone
road built in ten, fifteen or twenty
years. or ten or fifteen miles per year, at
the expense of the bridge, building and
tuition fund, and real estate increased,
in that time, from $40 to SIS per acre.
The facts connected with the history
of our country for the above named
length of time past, warrant us in the
assertion that real estate has increased
in greater ratio than this without stone
pixies. Land, which, at the time sold
for from SIS to S25 per acre, now sells
for from $40 to $50 per acre, with but
ordinary improvements. Viewing the
';pike question" from this standpoint,
we would be better off without them.
Farmers, permit me to figure. Sup
pose we bliId 100 miles of stone pike
Persons living at the short distance of
one mile from pike will not, (when
mud roads are impossible, and when
they are otherwise, we don't need stone
pikes,) in the way of traffic, derive a
single iota more benefit than ifte1l miles
away. For how would it benefit them, |
in this way, if there were q mile of I'M |
passible road between them and it?
Allowing persons owning real estate |
and living even within one mile of the |
pike on either side to be the ones direct |
ly benefited, we have here an area of |
200 square miles, or about two fifths of /
the entire county. This area contains |
12S, 600 acres.
The increase in value at 1--WE will aver |
age their own estimates, viz, $40 to SIS
per acre. S12. so per acre, would amount |
to the snug sum of one million Si.r hun
dred thousand dollars.
now address myself to the persons
owning real estate and living in 'he re
manning three-fifths of the county Are |
you willing to be taxed equally with the
remainder of the county to enhance the 1
value o. their possessions to the above
amount of increase, while yours will in
crease ION account of stone roads, little |
if any, and still have mud roads 70 con-
tend with, while these disinterested? |
men are comfortably enjoying their
good roads?
Changers, taxing the many for the /
benefit of tie few, is not in in accord
anee 9th the rules of the Or der, and he,
who indorses it, certainly, cannot be
consistent Patron Of Husbandry. Yours,
in favor of equal taxation and equal
bene fits q. X.
CHARLES, the Democratic defauiting /
Treasurer of Ada. Hardin county, is