Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-03-28
lSASHEVILLE'S NAME MUD?
RICHMOND PEARSON ON THE
IMPROVEMENT ACT,
We Have Arrived at a Crisis in the
History of This TOvn-Para-
mount Merits I'm the Act.

@AASssAAt kHe ACV.
EDITOR THE CITIZEN: Not in a spirit OF
controversy, not in advocacy of
any special or personal or DO
lltical interests, but in the earnest
belief that crisis is on involving the des-
tiny of Asheville, l desire to say a few
words in favor of the proposed public
improvements. Here is the question to
be settled: Is Ashevile in the hands OF
live, progressive, enlightened men of the
nineteenth century, or is it under he con-
troll OF pig-headed obstructionists of the
Silurian age. Shall we walk and drive
on streets like civilized men, or shall we
wade and wallow in mud like the Ptero-
dactyl and the lcthyosaurus
don't hesitate to declare that ! would
rather have one-half of all my city prop
erty sold under the sheriff's hammer than
live longer in this mud and mire. One
hall might go and the remaining half
fronting on decent streets would be
worth more than the whole, in the
present condition.
Talk about selling the poor mans lot
OF 100 feet The statement is absurd; it
is soleclsm. Where is there lot on
the paved portion OF Main street that is
worth less than 5000 per front foot ?
lhe man who owns 100 feet along that
paved portion can sell it to me for $2O,-
ooo. DO you call that man poor? The
value OF the lot has been made by
the pavement, and SO it will be ali over
Inc city, II we vote for the appropriation.
| know that 1t pays to build streets; for
within the past twelve months | have
spent $4,000 on the streets of Asheyille,
ana nave made money by the operation.
we can't build streets without money.
me fairest way to raise the money is to
tax the land directly benefited by the
Improvement as provided in the act.
ms is question of business. Ihope we
can keep it out of politics.
Suppose we place on the adyis.
ory committee-really the trustees of the
iund-such men as Penland of the 1st
National Bank, Maddux OF the w. N. c.
Bank, Sawyer of the Battery Park Bank,
Waddell OF the National Bank of Ashe.
VILE, all democrats, and Geo. W. Pack
ana ii. l. Collins, national republicans,
out unobtruslve i'll local politics. In the
oands OF such men, our money is safe; we
trust them every day with our individual
| iunds, and we can trust them implicitly
with the public funds, and not only that,
but we can count confidently upon all
impartial and judicious application OF
the money. | see that there are some
detects in the act, but these men in prac-
teal application can correct them.
| see two paramount merits i'll the act
tirst' 1t is the most just distribution OF
the taxes that could be devised; the
ground Immediately benefited pays two
thirds OF the cost, the community paws
the other third.
Second, in the practical working of the
act, Tie city, III wise hands will not have
to issue over $500, 900 in bonds, while il
Will accomplish $500, 900 worth of work.
1t ought totakehve years time to do the
work economically and permanently.
II 100000 be issued yearly for three
years the receipt from special assessments
I ny that time will amount to $145, 900,
which will he covered intoNthe sinking
lund and invested in Understanding
securities or, still better, applied to the
purchase and redemption OF our own
bonds. This process will make investors
eager to buy the bonds, will help the city S
credit, will virtually limit the issue to
S3Oo,oO for street improvements, and
VIII show to our sister cities who are no W
Questioning our ability to carry such a
debt that we have not only the pluck to
do it, but are actually buying back our
own paper in less than three years.
Vote the money and Ashevile will
take the lead of all the young cities OF
the progressive South. Vote it down
and she fails of her present bright prom.
Use and torleits the confidence of the
thousands of capitalists who in every
quarter of the union, have their ewes
ilHed on Asheville as place of prohtabl,
investment.
Vote the money and millions will flow
IN tor the hundred thousands which w,
eexpend; vote it down, and we will be lett
oy capitalists to wallow in our dcspised
and Improbable mire.
RICHMOND PEARSON