The record-union., 1894-01-05
APPEAL TO TEE SUPERVISORS.
Asked to Call Special Election on
Road Bonds.
Addresses Made by Citizens Before the
Board-The Matter Taken Un-
der Amusement.


At the afternoon session of the Board
of Supervisors yesterday the Executive
Committee of the Good Roads Conven-
ton were present in a body for the pur-
pose of urging the board TO submit to the
people at special election the PROPOSE
ton to issue 100000 in fortyyear bonds
for the construction of good roads
throughout the county.
Ex-senator William Johnston, Chair
man of the committee, first addressed the
board on the subject. He said that other
counties had even gone SO far as to vote
for bonds, and are already building good
roads. The committee has plans for build
ing roads which they proposed 10 submit.
No better time to bring the question be-
fore the people, for never were the roads
in worse condition than at present. He
did not think, as some do. that money
has been uselessly expended, but be-
lieved the cause was that travel is greater
and the roads used more than ever One
OF the worst roads in the county is the Nj
street road leading out of the city. No
roaebed of earth could withstand the
travel over that road, and some better
material should he found for improving
that and other roads.
The committee simply asked the board
to submit to the voters the proposition to
expend S500,00O for the building of good
roads. AS to the matter of cost, the
county would be saved any expense, as
the committee had assurance that enough
publicspirited citiZens-both in and out
side the city-would volunteer to act as
election officers without pay for their
services. The people of the country
simply asked to be given an opportunity
to give expression to their views on the
subject.
NOW IS THE TIME
To proceed with the work. The roads
are in deplorable condition, times are
dull and LABOR plentiful and cheap, and
the work could be Done easier and for less
money than at any other time.
AT the conclusion of his remarks Mr.
Johnston was asked some questions by
Supervisors Todd and Curtis regarding
specific portions of certain roads, to
which he responded. He said the pit or
clay gravel used tor repairing certain
bad roads was unfit for the purpose.
Where that quality of gravel was used
the roads are now the worst.
Supervisor Jenkins, Mr.. Johnston said
had caused some good work to be done
on the river road, but in case of high
water it would not serve the desired pur-
pose.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT FAvORS 1T.
II. Weinstock, addressing the board,
said the committee appreciated the fact
that the Supervisors naturally desired to
act cautiously in the matter, but he be-
lleved they realized the fact that the COM
mittee represented the people and tax
n QD0nntV-nOt IL
ais He believed the members of the
board would have to agree with the COM
mittee that the public at large is inter-
ested in the matter to the extent of favor
ing the proposition to have good roads
constructed.
He called attention to the fact that
while the subject was in its infancy no
less than 2l0 citizens met in convention to
consider the matter and urged the isSu-
ance of bonds. After a bond issue of
$3.50, 200 had been favored, further discus
sion of the subject had impressed the
committee with the fact that the people
demanded even more, and the amount
was increased to $500, 900 for the purpose.
There would be no trouble about secur-
ing election officers without cost to the
county.
RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC.
J. A Woodson, Vice Chairman of the
sire to bring all public questions close to
the people. When the people ask the
privilege of giving expression to their
views on a matter of this kind, it is the
duty of those in whom they had vested
authority to give the people the oppor-
tunity they desired to express themselves
at the ballot-bOx.
Mr.. Woodson referred to what was be-
ing done in other counties in the matter
rDf III a rata fO
the fact that in San Francisco and Oak
land 800 men had that very day been put
at work on the public roads at dollar a
day, thus giving employment to the
needy and securing good work at little
cost. In this county it is different. He
regarded the application made by the
committee in the same light as petition
signed by large majority of the citizens
of the county, and hoped the board would
so look upon it,
All that was asked Of the board was to
give the people an opportunity to say
whether or not they desired to tax them
selves under the plan proposed in order
to have good and permanent roads con-
structed.
In response to an inquiry by Chairman
Morrison, Mr.. Woodson said the COM
mittee's estimate of the cost was about
s., 900 per mile in this county, but there
was prospect of a new basalt quarry
being opened up that would reduce this
estimate. The great National road, made
as it issproposed to make our roads, is as
nearly good to-day as when it was built
by President Monroe.
THE FINANCIAL ASPECT.
| r. G.. Irvine spoke of the advantage to
| farmers of having good and permanent
roads over which they could haul their
produce at any and all seasons of the year.
loi ina tr ha ano n
the financial aspect of the bond issue
the amount necessary to be raised annu-
ally to meet the debt, and the manner in
| which it was proposed to appOrtion the
money among the different sections OF
the county. 1t would not be necessary,
he said, to sell all the bonds at once.
therefore the interest account would
really be less than shown in the calcula-
tionS.
Furthermore, the estimates had been
made upon the assumed basis of S34, ,000,-
600 of taxable property in the county for
! the full term of forty years, whereas the
! fact is the population of the county will
be vastly increased, and the taxable
wealth proportionately, thus reducing
immeasurably the rate of tax annually
required for the sinking and interest
! fund.
ALL SECTIONS FAVOR 1T.
! P. r. Beckley of Franklin said he be-
! lieved the people in the southern part OF
the county were almost unanimously in
favor of the bond proposition for the
building Of good roads. At least they
would like to be given the opportunity to
! express their views on the subject.
! j. E. Butler, of the eastern portion of
the county, said that while the roads out
that way are not as bad as in other locali-
| ties, still the roads are bad enough and
ought TO be better. Supervisors Curtis
and jenkins have done everything possi-
bic to improve the roads in their districts