Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-01-31
aOLD AGAIN

The writer in THE CHRONICLE last
week in answer to Old Farmer, says he
don't understand our figures
mill raised to five mills is ten fold. In
our township l am credibly informed the
difference will be still greater.
The more the dirt roads were thrown
up, last year the worse they are now. In
deed, it was declared by one who uses the
roads hauling apples when they are bad
more than any one else in our township,
that he saw no way of bettering dirt
roads. such a season as this, without
shedding them.
The Tryon bill gives Trustees power to
appoint Supervisors of roads. The TruS-
tees are elected by the votes of ali the
people of the township. Incorporated
villages and towns are exempt by the
provisions of the bill from this tax; there
fore, this bill invites the people of the
town to vote their hands into country
peoples pocket. 1t so happens that one
and sometimes two of the Trustees are
inhabitants OF the town, and will be re-
quired under this bill to levy tax that
they themselves do not pay.
Look at the National road, made by the
United States; worked now by contract;
heavy tolls required every ten miles. Ac-
cOrdipg to our new lights on roads, this
road should be in first-claSS condition.
Farmers, you who have not seen, should
see it now: 1t cost you just about the
same to travel on it, if you furnish your
team and buggy, as you could go the
same distance by rail Timber firmly
NH oh ic loiH roJ
wheels, is the best solution of the ques-
ton.
As to making good road to all the
coal banks of the country, so that people
can haul coal at all times of the year, the
thing is absurd.
We must all learn to do our hauling
when the roads are solid. Then If the
grade is as good as the pike, dirt roads
are better for both vehicle and beast. II
we will only wait in patience for sun and
wind all will be right.
This writer seems to be very much con-
cerned over the few hundred dollars un-
lawfully, as he says, taken from Richland
township; but the law which allows
81, 4,OC0 per year for county officers which
could be Just as well filed for half the
sum. finds no particular condemnation.
When we commenced farming many
years ago, all the products of the farm
were as high or higher than now; wages
lower; taxes then paid once year, or
about half what we pay now. We have
been legislating for the last forty years
in the interest o. the "dear people" If
anybody can see that property, life and
liberty are better secured now than then,
he is more gifted than most of us. Our
common schools then and before turned
out. with little collegiate help, such men
as Corwin, Allen, Sherman, Davy Tod,
Grant. the Kennons and CowenS. Now,
we pay our teachers for five or six days
they do not teach yearly-twenty days for
month; forty dollars for one OF these
months in a country school, instead OF
twenty or thirty, under the old rule.
There is bill now pending before our
legislature to have a Township or County
Superintendent at 81 ,0C0 to 81 ,5C0 a year
to see that these teachers understand and
attend to their business, and they have
already passed a bill that requires our
teachers to pass an examination IN phySl-
ology and the effects of alcohol on the
human system. This law is expected to
give to the common people as good a
knowledge of the effects OF alcohol on the
system as is possessed by lawyers and
doctors These two professions know
alcohOl's effects on the human system,
and we may judge of the effect of this
law by looking at them.
New road laws, new school laws, means
progre. even if our farmers have to pay
double taxes; but there is a possibility OF
killing the goose that. laid the golden
egg"
The writer has heard several farmers
say they would support no man for o.fce
of their party, or any other, that would
vote to increase taxation. They declare
that after taxes are paid, necessary re-
pairs made, and one dollar per day and
board themselves, instead of two OF three
per cent. on investment, they would,
many of them, fall behind. 1t is by
throwing in their own labor that they are
able to come out on the right side.
The merchants of our town, with only
one exception, have all prospered and
added to their property much faster than
the same number of farmers. With the
present or last few years price of farm
products and the imminent prospect OF
inc sed taxation, the farmers will have
all they can do, especially if they hire
any of their labor done, to keep even,
much less get ahead.
Now, friend CHRONICLE, don't let loose
a whole brood of prospective candidates
for Office on us. Unless salaries are re-
duced they will be on hands at the next
cOnvention-in great excess of the num-
Der of Offices to be filed.
Yours for tax reform,
OLD FARMER.