The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-04-05
THE PROPOSED LOAN.


TIE PROPOSED LOAN.
An; FLANDERS Views On the Stone fridge
Project. tRTEyi
TO he Editor q he Iat.iiiasneer. y.
sla:-We Gud in the "stono Bridge
Boomer" Of las. Sunday, another effort
TO boost, the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
bridge scheme by one OF our citi liens.
Opinions Of numerous other "business
mem not listed as "our heaviest tax.
PAYERS" who do not look upon tho OK.
;rayayant scheme In tho same light, are
Of course not mentioned. We have no
doubt that tho wealthy class (tho bond
buyers) represented by tho "interviews'
are favorable to tho erection OF d stone
bridge with borrowed money, Say $780,
600. and that many OF them would take
bonds, In the way Of business, at 4 per
cont interest and no city tax OH tho sa!he,
and look on the transaction ms a fairly
profitable ono, ns they would get back in
the thirty.tbree years tho bonds have to
run $ols, 500, which would represent the
actual cost Of this cxtravagantl improve.
ment to tho taxpayer. We submit that
tho "heaviest. taxpayers" could reduce
amount Of taxes II thcy would have 10
pay into city treasury by buying snch
bonds. But would not the poor nun and
woman pay more in consequence, OF the
bondholder being relieved OF paying any
tax on this 100000. We think that is
Just about the way the $500 that would
DO sunk In interest every year would be
raised. This means m increase In the
amount OF taxea, OF course. f.
Further along, what another gentle.
man said, Is OF interest to named sec.
ton OF our city. His remarks are I'D.
yisory and carry q threat also. We Of
this locality are to support this, pay
dear for your whistle scheme" that We
may curry favor with the Heaviest tax
payers," and, thus get somc "crumbs" III
tho way OF sewers, street improvements,
&C., Mt the hands Of "milords.h These
schemers seem to think we Of tho '"Gar.
den Spot" can DO cajolod or frightened
l into submission. We think tho people
over here are not "built that way" but
rs they suffer special tax (tolf) OF six
dollars per year unjustly, that they will
certainly not vote an additional tax upon
themselves to give another part Of the
city costly and free stone bridge.
A word here to taxpayers who gel
nothing in the way OF interest back and
have not large blocks Of property to be
improved in value by this scheme. We
as a county ard city are now putting
100000 into railroad bridge, and arc
about to put large sum into new Jail
more public school house buildings o.
large outlay, street paving, city govern
ment, ETC., all OF which will amount tc
a great sum Of money, and materially
swell the amount Of your taxes. VIII i,
not be wise to stop this mania for piline
up debt and overlooking the people with
taxes? 81.
10 resume:-A "third citizen" said
that sister city having many iron and
steel bridges (and now building more)
had officers whose business it was tc
periodically inspect those bridges and
see that they were kept in good repair
How is that for an argument against q
steel bridge? Our heaviest Taxpayers
seem to think it good. Arc we to be
| lieve that in private property they pur.
sue such policy? How absurd! Dc
we not keep our Water Works, City
Building, market houses and all city
property in repair by attention aud ex
pcnse? Do wenot elect men to office
and pay them for oversight and care o.
city property? We will agree that one
piece Of city property is neglected-tht
Market street iron bridge. There is {
purpose in this neglect, however, appar
ent 10 all.
|. A practical proposition was made in
Council bya "Main street business man
] mot interviewed) that looks like bust
ness more pure and simple-build 4
bridge not to exceed $4,000 in cost and
pay for it when completed, out of the
revenues OF the city. This course might
require less expenditure in some othe,
directions during the year, but il it did
we could get along comfortably, the city
would own her bridge, and the taxpayer
would have no extra "bridge tax" tc
pay.
The stone bridge clique die hard
Twice before have the people OF the city
told these advocates OF extravaganza
that they did not want this outlay. The
expenses OF three elections are forced on
the people. Now let us give them a
vote that will assure them fully. Let
every one opposed to useless extrava.
gance, vote against the loan. Beware oil
any choice-steel or stone complications.
Vote solid against loan. Council may
then know distinctly that if a bridge
must be built, it must be done without
mourning debt, and adding further taxes
to tho load the people now have.
ISLANDER.