Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-23
FOR BETTER HIGHWAYS.
County Clerk Nottorf Makes Some
Excellent Suggestions.

to a matter in which all are deeply |
and TO which they should |
give some thought.
It is in relation TO roads and high
ways. The farmer is more directly
concerned in this subject than anyone
else: and This views and preferences
should be heard and considered first.
The question, "How can our roads and
highways be best improved with the
least expenseY" ia the one you are
asked TO consider. Under the present
system in this county as practiced
under section 5i94 Of the general stat
utes OF 1889 which says, THE county
commissioners Of each county MAY
[obserye the mayl at the time pre-
scribed by law for levying county taxes
levy a road tax Of not more than three
mills on the dollar on all taxable prop.
erty In their respective counties, etc
You will observe that they are not
compelled to make this levy. Your
commissioners are strongly In favor OF
not making such levy this year unless
such an action does not meet with the
approval Of the taxpayers OF this
county whose servants they are. IL
may be we'll here to name some OF the
advantages derived by such course.
The railroad valuation In this county IL
1878. 400 and we all know that they
sublet their road work and perhaps get
II done for Hfty cents on the dollar or
sven less and an inspection OF the
work performed by their road gang
would render verdict that II Is not
worth twenty i've cents on the dollar
TO say nothing about the annoyance
the township trustees and road over
seers are subject 10 at the time they
work at the roads. Now by not max
Ing road levy but letting each town
ship increase the general levy, say
from one to three mills on the dollar, as
the condition OF the roads may demand
which each taxpayer will pay In money,
then we get one hundred cents on the
dollar from the railroads which Is at
the disposal OF each township and can
bs used to the very hest advantages.
And l want to say right here that one
county clerk of this State told me
ut the county clerks convention held
in Topeka last December. that the
money paid by the railroads alone In
this manner aud expended on the roads
as indicated, would have given better
results than the work OF the railroad
gang and the men OF the township
doing road work combined. / do not
want to cast any reflections on anyone
but every road overseer will understand
me. The levy OF two mills as mace by
the county commissioners for road pur-
poses heretofore has been uniform, and
cannot be otherwise. This may be too
much for some townships and not
enough for others, which could be over
come by each township making such
increase Of general levy AS mentioned.
Another great objection TO the system
now in practice Is that II goes through
80 many hands; namely, the county
clerk makes out list of all the real
estate in each township, describing It,,
stating the valuation, also all the
personal property; then II goes to the
township trustee, who prepares a list
for each of tire road overseers in his
township, who, when they get through
with the road work return the same to
the trustee, when that officer EXAMINES
the returns and all property owners
whose tax is marked by the overseer
rs paid, is 30 indicated on the road
book, which, when completed by the
trustee, is returned to the county
clerk who, when he writes up the tax
roll, places against snch real estate OI
personal property owner such amount
Of delinquent road tag" as appears ol
3 nd road book and not shown that tn,
tax was pa or worked.
1t will not be necessary to state herr
how mistakes can be made by thi'
course from road overseer to county
clerk, but an investigation by a.
offended person will prove that tn
county clerk does not make all IN,
mistakes. Some may object to thi
new plan because they would rattle
work out their tax than pay 1t. We'll
| would say that the large majority q
farmers would rather hire some Que I
10 their work On the road than do
themselves and | dare say they coul
/, we'll afford to do 81 because when tn
conditions are favorable for workin
The roads they are equally favorable fC
: farm work. A little thought and II
a-ction may suggest to your MIND
A many more reasons why the coun,
! commissioners should not levy roa
tax. Your Humble Servant,
A f. Il. NoTToRF,
n, County Clerk.
al - - go
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