The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-10
The County Road Bond System
Sat Down Upon BY the Dallas
Convention.
How the Counties Voted Upon the
Observation-Disclosures of
the Convention.
,ecial Telegram to the Statesman.

ing taken that seriously oontemplates any
radical change in our road system. The
plan that was before the convention for
discussion was the bond measure, but the
granger was on hand with his hereditary
aversion to bonds, and he showed the
bond measure under in good shape. The
fight for the bond system was conducted by
j. B, Simpson, W. e. Hughes, Henry Exall,
and Il. P. Bowser, of Dallas, and Albert
Stevenson, of Parker. The opposition
was handled by Colonel Tom Brown, of
Sherman, with his well-known democrati c
convention ability. Mr.. A. Syms, of Will
Hanson, and others Clipped in with Colo
mel Brown.
Dallas county presented divided dele
cation. This fact had much to do with
the defeat of the bond system. After a
long discussion the following was adopted
and the convention adjourned:
Resolved, That this convention favors
the amendment of our present road law in
such manner as will better facilitate the
building of public roads.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
DALLAS, January 5.-The road conven-
ton was called to order at 1870 a. m. by
Col. j. B. Simpson, of Dallas, upon request
of the mayor, who had been called away
on urgent business. The following coun-
ties were represented; Dallas, Tarrant,
Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Navarro, Kauf-
man, Williamson, Rockwell, Hill, Crosby,
Collin, Ellis, Parker, Milan and Johnson.
Temporary organization was eff
fected by the election of
Hon. T. j. Brown, of Sherman,
as temporary chairman, and Charles o.
Wood, of Dallas, as temporary secretary.
Business was proceeded with by the for
nation of a committee on permanent Or
ganization and basis of representation
The committee consisted of one delegate
from each county represented. The com
mittee was as follows:
Tarrant, M. B. Lloyd; Hunt, j. s. Sheriff.
Williamson, A. Syms; McLennan, W. e
Hall; Milan, A. j. Ruby; Ellis, R. P
Mackey; Grayson, p Etohison; johnson
A. j. Brown; Kaufman, j. M. Lewis; Hill
j. G. Abnay; Navarro, A. s. Henry; Dial
las, o. II. Bowser; Fannin, W. j. Hood
Collin, William Sachser; Parker, Albert
Stevenson; Rockwell, A. R. Hartman
Crosby and eight unorganized counties
G. M. Swink.
The convention then took recess until
O'Clock, and during the interim the dele
gates accepted an invitation from Colonel
Marsdlin to visit Oak Cliff and partake Of
! refreshments.
The convention reassembled at :
O'Clock. The committee on representa-
tion reported for permanent chairman j
O. Gibson, ,and @. o. Wood permanent sec
rotary. The basis of representation wa.
that each county should have one vote fol
every 1000 votes cast at the last election
According to this basis the counties rep
resented had the following strength in the
conventions:
Hill, votes; Hurt, 8; Johnson, 5
Milan, 81; Navarro, 3; Grayson, z; Tar.
rant, z; Fannin, z; Kaufman, 5; Nc
Lehman, q; Dallas, IL; Collin, z; Ellis, 6
Rockwell, L; Crosby and attached coun-
ties, 2; Parker, 8. Total, SO. The re-
port was adopted and the committee wal
discharged. Colonel GIBBS on declared the
convention open for business.
Mr.. Sampson said that at convention
held recently in Dallas county commit
tee was appointed to draw measure
to submit to this convention, which
would, if passed by the legislature, furnish
the relief needed.
On motion the convention received thu
report of the committee. The report Sol
forth that the committee fully Endorsed
the bill which Senator Jarvis, Of
Tarrant, would introduce, copy
of which had already been published
In order to get the matter properly before
the convention, Col. j. B. Simpson offered
the following resolution:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
convention that the counties in the blacl
land district of Texas bond themselves
for the purpose of road construction to 9
limited extent, provided the majority Of
voters in said counties vote therefor.
After q lengthy discussion the vote was
taken BY counties on the Simpson resolu
ton with the following result:
Ayes-Crosby, 2; Hunt, 4; johnson, 5
Milan, 6; Navarro, 5; Tarrant, z; Dallas, 8
Parker, 8. Total, 40.
Nsys-Hall, 8; Hunt, Q; Williamson, q
Grayson, 8; Fannin, z; Kaufman, 8
McLennan, q; Dallas, A.; Collin, z; Ellis, 6
Rockwell, l. Total, So.
Theresol ution was declared lost The
bondsmen made another effort to carry
their point by the following, BY Colone
Simpson:
Resolved, That the Legislature be re
quested to. pass a law permitting 'anJ
county whom IL shall have taxable values
equal to SIS, 000, 900 to issue. bonds for roat
purposes not exceeding. 8 per cent of sucl
valuation.
On a call Of counties a motion to tabl,
was carried.
Colonel Brown then offered the follow
ing:
Resolved, That we request the Twenty
first legislature to submit to the people
an amendment. to the constitution per
hitting the people of each county by vot'
of the qualified voters who pay taxes OF
property in said county to authorize thu
commissioners court of such county tC
levy a tax for road and bridge pur
poses not to exceed 10 cents or
the 500 valuation of property
in such county, this tax to be in addition