The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-11-01

LIN NAN O4 VIZ LA&@A4S g4OAAASD - III
country roads and concentrated the
energy and capital on the building of
railroads. The people seemed to think
that If they could only get a railroad
they would not need other highways.
Now they are beginning t~orealize that
good country roads are as necessary to
their prosperity as railroads, and The
railroad companies recognize the value
of good country roads as feeders to their
lines. Mr.. Jackson freely admitted
that the cost of constructing gOodrOads
all over the State would be enormous.
and to most people appalling, but he
did not regard that as an i~nsuperable
barrier. He said that if we could only
get the money, we could easily find
skilled engineers competent to make
the roads, and that we have plenty of
valuable material for constructing
them. How, then, shall the money be
obtained? Asmall amount will not do.
The people cannot stand the taxation
necessary to raise a large amount to be
expended at once,
Mr.. Jackson proposes that the Fed
eral Government, with its almost limit
less credit, should come to our relief in
this matter. He explained that in
France and England the governments
have taken hold of the work. and both
those countries have excellent roads
that will endure, with moderate care,
for a thousand years He had travelled
on a good road in England made by
the Romans 1000 years ago.
The United States can easily borrow
money to any desired amount at two
or three per cent, Onlong time. There
are millions of dollars now in New
York which the owners would be glad
to invest in long time government
bonds at three per cent. The Federal
Government might lend this money to
the States or counties at the same per
cent. and for the same long term, re
quiring the State or county borrowing
to enter INTO an agreement to levy an
annual tax sufficient to pay the accru-
ing intert st and to provide a sinking
fund, which would extinguish the debt
in the given time, say fifty or sixty
years; or the Federal Government
might guarantee the State or county
bonds, which would make them as de
slraOle for investment as United States
bonds.
1t will be seen that under this plan a
large amount OF money might be
secured for immediate use in construct
ing roads. Taxation would be only
moderately if at all increased, and the
burden of it would decrease year by
year, as the country advances in pros
perity and population. Taxable values
would at once Increase with the en-
hancement of the price of land subse-
quent upon the construction of good
and permanent highways. Immigrants
of a desirable character who are now
[n~& oft &c %h~ C%nEA -vN1TII nnOOn 70
buy our surplus lands and help to de
velOp our resources. Our children and
our children's children, who would
reap the benefit Of the expenditure of
this money, would help to repay the
debt. In this way the benefit of large
expenditure OF money might be realized
within a few years, while the cost would
be spread over q long series of years,
and would not be seriously felt by any
tax payer.
A secondary benefit, flowing from
the adoption of this plan, would be the
increase in our volume of circulation.
Many persons are now clamOring for
money. Under this plan millions would
be spent in Virginia, and every interest
of the State would feel the life giving
impulse. The thousands of we'll tod
immigrants, who would seek homes in
our genial climate, would spend their
money for land and other things, and
thus augment still further the volume
of circulation.
We have imperfectly outlined the
plan SO ably set forth by Mr.. Jackson.
The limits Of our space forbid full am
plifcatiOn Enough has probably been
said to attract attention to a subject
which is second to n1ne now engaging
the public attention.
Mr.. Jackson has been discussing the
question in the columns of the South
er4a Planter, and the enthusiasm which
he manlfests gives assurance that he
will not drop the subject until some
thing is accomplished. Let us hope
that IRE of earnest workers will
come to his assistance in what is emf
emily a patriotic undertaking.
Other States are moving. COnven-
tions have been held in several of them
to discuss the road question in all its
aspects 1t is hoped that after the OK
element of the presidential election is
over, steps may be taken to inaugurate
a similar-movement in Virginia.
The Advance is ready to enlist for
the campaign, or, rather be it said, for
tie war
RUTHERFORD COUNTY ALL