The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-08
A MATTER OF FINANCE.

AMATTeR OF FINANCE.
Construction of Good Roads Valuable for
Both Labor and Capital.
At the recent convention Of the
American Bankers Association in Chi
cago. Judge E. H. Tnsyer. Of Clinton,
Ia. delivered an address upon the SUBJ
iect of goods roads. Mr.. Thayer con-
sidered the subject of good roads as
matter OF finance. In the main he
said:
All civilized and seml-barbarous ma
tions recognize the fact that the Ia
borer must have employment. Wars
have been waged to give idle men
something to do. This republic by en-
gagipg in legitimate enterprises alone,
has been able to furnish employment
to i,s great mass of workingmen. But
has not this continent come face to
face with the labor problem which the
old world has sought in vain to solve
for centuries? Have not the larger
enterprises, such as railroads, mines,
and the leading industries nearly
reached the limit of their capacity and
proftableness While the nation may
continue to prosper and grow IN
wealth and population ls it not reach
ing that point when something besides
the natural course of things is essen
tial TO furnish employment to labor?
| As the country energies from the cris-
Is which has left mass of meritorious
workingmen on the shoals IN compul-
| rooHn fhair lnt tho
most uncomfortable of all who have suf.
fered from the business depression the
great truth confrOnts us that the prob
lem now to solye is how best to fur
nish them employment.
While I do not claim to lay before
your association a solution of the ques-
too in its entirety, believe the plan
that have to suggests Of that feasl-
BILE nature that it can be carried out to
accomplish grand results in that direc.
ton. Conservative and reliable statls-
ticians estimate the cost of bad roads
in this country at more than S25O.O0O,-
OOo per year. This vast sum somebody
mist lose. Probably tits divided quite
equally among all the people In proper
tlon to each individuals expenditures.
For this reason 1t is no less loss, and
for this reason the necessity Is all the
greater for stopping the loss. Add to
scheme for saving that amount,
another for furnishing employment to
the idle million, and here Is project
worthy the advanced civilization OF the
age.
1t is net question of increased tax
alton, but one Of using to tbs best ad
vantage the money annually contrib
uted by the people for road purposes.
1t is within bounds to put the sum
spent each year in the maintenance of
country roads at S80,OO0,O00. AS rule
the $S0OOOO00 goes each year to keep
company with the $250O0O.0OO de.
voured bv mud. Undertaken at an
early day in twenty-five years every
mile vf road commonly used by the
public and made thoroughfare by
law, save perhaps in the thinly-settled
portion of some of the far Western
States or in the more mountainous re-
gions, could be built with stone or
gravel made durable and permanent,
always in condition every day IN the
week upon which q full wagon load OF
produce or merchandise could be hauled
and without the payment of a dollar
additional tax. Skillful flnanciering
and intelligent investment Of the taxes
now paid will do this and the cost:
principal and interest be liquidated in
side of hve years, putting the rate of
interest at 81 per cent. Employment
will be furnished the surplus labor Of
the land and the money Of the people
kept in circulation, and unprecedented
thrift and prosperity 60 hand In hand
with the prosecution of the work, fol-
lowed by perpetual benefits to every
business interest. This plan, embody.
ing the borrowing of money on bonds
issued by counties or their subdiVi-
sions, will meet with but slight oppo.
sition when the voter is convinced that
the money will bejudiciously and econ.
omically expended; that 1t does not
mean increase Of taxation and will
bring expected results. With the plan
now in vogue no person can look ahead
to the time when there shall be less
taxes levied for road purposes than
} now. Continue to collect the amount
annually levied and use it as Is now
the custom in all the States and In sew
enty-fve years there will be no more to
show for the taxes paid than there is
now to show for the taxes paid in the
last seyenty.fVe years.
Nor do see any reason why the
State should not contribute something
to each mile of road built within its
limits. / would not, however, have
; either the government or the State
build the roads. This should be done
by the counties or their subdivisions
permitting the Intervention OF the
} State 80 tar as necessary to secure the
!. State contribution.
The time Is rapidly approaching
WHEN the saving made by good roads
may be essential for stopping the dis
NAL cry uf "oVerproduction" and ena-
BILE America to continue to furnish
food and raiment to foreign countries.
Rob mud of the millions 1t levies on
, the people and conduct that vast sum
into the pockets of the farmer, the
wage Garner, the producer and the
consumer and the republic will add to
its annual resources wealth equal to
one half the mineral products of the
land. With good roads traVersiDg
, every school district and leading to the
, village and towns the serious question
how TO prevent the depopulaLlon Ut
the country and the congestion OF the
cities will be settled to the advantage
and welfare of every interest known to
American genius and American enter
prise.
Close of The Fair.
CHICAGO, Oct. 3O-The Worlds FaiI
has ended. This evening was to have
been one of gayety and dazzling brilli'
ancy, but the death of Mayor Harrison