Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-03
IMPROVED ROADS.
The Prosperity OF Fort Worth Depends Largely
Upon the Solving of this Problem
Fon7 WORM. Tex. Jan. IS. 1889.

in the ofThand discussion of the question
of the melioration of our public highways
is Indicative in n superlative degree of
not only a common sentiment as to the
paramount Importance of the undertake
ing, but likewise or the urgent exigene,es
of the situation. The divinity which
shapes our ends, rough hew them rs we
may, in matters of this kind, is the pre-
ponderance Of sentiment 10 the credit OF
any one scheme as against another. The
plan which reflects the highest intel
| ligence and viii with the least friction
best square with the ncontestable die
tates of reason is the one most likely to
receive cheerful popular support
a project of this nature must. there
fore, of necessity combine in sympathetic
and symmetrical Union and concordance ,
the attributes OF properties OF economy,
conservatism and feasibility.
Napoleon ; indomitable energy of dis
position TO conquer obstacles, was
admirably shown on an occasion when he
came TO stream, much swollen by rains.
Nothing daunted, he plunged into the
raging torrent ami had proceeded bat
few rods before he lost his way IN this
extremity, not caring To impeFil rs we'll
as moisten what Irving out of high bred
civility would prefer TO call his seat of
honor. he called about him his whole
staff and babe each of them that he
might regain hrs bearings, spur their
steeds from an aXial center towards diff
ferent points of the compass. In this
manner he rescued himself from an IN
enviable pTedicament. From the cruel
bic of discussion may be
evolved some plan OF unas-
sailable merit No plan, however,
well elaborated or neatly put into eXecu-
ton can be so meritorious as not to in
volve an outlay of mOney; and there are
but two appTeciable ways of procuring
this or its equivalent, and these are from
sources of private subscriptions or taxa
ton The work, if. undertaken, when
complete will under any system of opera
ton and cooperation represent q certain
consideration as an investment. Aside
from the equities involved there are no
grounds for valid objections TO the issu-
ance of long time negotiable coupon
bonds, carrying low interest rate. 1t
is argued that this, from
financial point of view would
be the very summit Of incOnsider-
ateness, and as Il policy pregnant with
insufferable evils. CoXcomical fogyism
alike churlish and ubiquitous now, as
is the fashion when abstruse questions Of
the sort are thrust forward for determi-
nation, hobs up serenely with its foil.
1t is unprecedented that the superincum-
bent weight of 81 bonded indebtedness
would entail insuppoTtable hardships and
privationS and therefore is of question
able wisdom and eXpediency. Any sub
stitute practically unobjectionable must
essentially be an approximation Of
Il. Ir.1 Tl,r.
conduct of public business. An
intelligent correspondent of yours and an
oppOser of bonds said about a fortnight
ago that bonds would virtually be lien
upon farms and other property. BY a
refinement of this style of ratiOcination
it may in rebuttal be fairly maintained
that any other scheme which would in
sure the completion of the same work i'll
a given time would likewise be tanta-
mount to lien upon the proceeds of the
produce of every farm and every species
of property in the hands of the taxpayer.
The only deliverance from the
logic Of this conclusion would
have TO come through failure
of the undertaking. HaphaZard
financial projects are most generally un-
fruitful of bGneficent results. There is
such thing and weakness as being
penny-wise and pound foolish. Enter
prSes carried on as he suggests, where SO
much depends upon individual violation
and free will offerings are commonly
overtaken by Nemesis, fOaled of indif-
ference, local chickering's and jealousies
Abraham is the only fellow who ever Of
fered his son a willing sacrifice upon the
altar of love and devotion. Your corre-
spOndent also fore calculates as a result
ing boon of the construction of
good roads the appreciation in the value
of lands, to the extent of 100 per cent.
If this estimate Is approximately true
and correct, aside from other cOmputable
benefits TO accrue, it should suffice to
convince the most purblind of skeptics
that the most expeditions way of COM
passing a realization of such advantages
is the worthiest of sanction. Does not
the bond scheme promise the most
speedy, salutary and enjoyable results,
in this direction? 1t is conceded by him
that the bonds in question could be
fioated Mt par with a per cent. interest
rate. The average granger who buys
his implements and provisions on time
usually pays extra for the accommodation
at the rate of "a per cent per annum over
and above what the same goods would
cost him at cost figures. Such business
loan at per cent interest on long time
and payable in easy inStallments. Let
the work be prosecuted as it may the
resources of the people will have to be
drawn upon to pay the piper and meet
every requirement. There is no source
of revenue now available that will be
dried up, and no cOntTibutive source
but what will help as much under
the bond system as any other
Fines, forfeitures, poll taxes and so
forth will not be sighted as resourceful
instrumentalities Concert OF action
which only comes of wen organized chrys-
taliZed effort in the concrete, is essential
to the carrying forward of all great en-
teTprises to a successful issue Halfway
measures chiIls and benumbs enterprise,
and is uncommonly prolific of extrava-
gance and those disasters foolhardiness
begets the first leap. The "'pay as you
GO policy would preeipitate discOmforts
and deprivations which would be
felt and experienced contem-
poraneously, and all seeming for the
behoof Of posteTity. The influence of
pOsterify upon this generation has
scarcely augmented the energy of its
virtues or diminished the contagion of !