Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-01-07
Stone Roads.


limits when I say that nine-tenths of the tax
paying citizens of Henry county are opposed
to the construction, at present, of stone or
gravel roads. In the light of this apparent
fact, is it not surprising-not to say aggra- |
waiting and insolent-that two members of
the Board Of Commissioners shall, through |
the public press of the county and in two
languages, stigmatise these nine-tenths of
our people who. in the exercise of the privi-
leges as citizens, enter an honest protest to
this improvement, as "growlers" To say
nothing Of the Disregard of official dignity
manifested by the term, it fayors of an ''in.
science of place. foreign to our plain govern
ment of the people, and is an insult to a
community which has the right of petition
and protest, and the inherentright to acquire,
possess and enjoy private property.
This insolence is, however, surpassed by
the folly of the argument employed by these
officials in Justification of their contempt of
the peoples will and desire.
1t is argued that, because Napoleon, Ridge
vile and Freedom townships have during the
years 1882, 1883, 1884 and 1885, paid road
taxes aggregating the sum of $5,065.91, these
townships are entitled to have these taxes ap-
propriated to the improvement, by Macada-
mizing, of the Bryan pike. Did ever seri-
ous proposition pertake SO much of joke?
Is the Bryan pike the only road which trayer
ses these townships? Have not the tax-pay-
ers residing and owning real estate along the
Adrian pike and other roads running through
these townships the same right to have the
road taxes which they paid during these
years applied to the improvement of the
roads leading to their own farms? If 80,
where is your general road and bridge tax,
and who is to pay for your bridges? To the
nursery with such folly!
These Commissioners would have the bal
ance of the county construct and keep in re-
pair all the roads and bridges in Henry
county except the Bryan pike, and take all
the taxes, collected for general purpose,
| in Ridgeville, Freedom and Napoleon town
ships appropriated to the improvement of
the Bryan pike! Well might these Commits
sioners, like Dogberry, ask some one to write
| them an ass.
Take the duplicate of 1881, which is less
than the average, and we find the aggregate
taxable property in Henry county to be $5,-
5a2,279 The aggregate levy for general road
purposes for the years 1882, 1883, 1884 and
! 1886, amounted to 26-10 mills-making q
total collection of $14,4O9.92. Admit that OF
this amount the townships of Ridgeville,
Freedom and Napoleon paid $5,065.9l, and
that the unexpended balance in the treasury
should be distributed pro rata-than these
townships would be entitled to only a little
| over third of the $l2 600 said to be in thu
treasury. But uDon what principle of righ
shall these townships be permitted to draw
from the treasury the road taxes paid By
them and expend the same on one particular
road, making the balance of the county keel
up all other roads? And what right has {
little corner of Freedom, less than mile ant
half through which the Bryan pike runs, tt
all the road tax paid by the property Of tha'
township? The same may be asked OF
Ridgeville. Napoleon township. has man!
roads, all of about equal importance. Wha
special right have citizens of that township
less than twenty living along the Bryan pike
to all the road money paid by the township
Out upon such nonsence-"g give it the breas
or cram its mouth with pap!'
But these officials should know that thi
question does not stop here. They are eithe
acting under the Norton law or they are not
The upexpended money in the treasury wa
collected as general road fund, and cal
: only be expended for the purpose for whicl
it was collected. How can it be used to con
struct roads under the Norton law? Ii use'
temporarily, it must be refunded, and that b
levy under the Norton law, and that lev
must be general throughout the county. !
the Commissioners attempt to pay th
/; county's proportion of the expense of i'm
) proving the Bryan pike from this genera
fund, then they are not proceeding under tn
Norton law, and they will have a nice tim
! collecting TIN money subscribed under tina
/ law, and the taxpayers of the county vii
have the entire expense of the improvement
. to pay for-and all for the main purpose 0
making q carriage drive to the farm of on
of the Commissioners
! Keep on, Mr.. Rohrs and Mr.. Booher, wit
y;mr folly and defiance of the people. Th
courts will doubtless call you to halt unit
J tie people can speak through the ballot boz
|. and you may rest assured that they will no
again be deceived by false promises.
A"GRowLERn FROM DAMASCUS.