The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-15
FOR AND AGAINST BONDS.
The Matter to Be Discussed by the
Commissioners at Their Next Meet


The Matter TO Be Discussed by the
Commissioners at Their Next Meet
ing.
The recommendation Of the superior
court grand jury for an issue OF county
bonds 20 provide for the improvement Of
county roads was widely talked Of yester-
| day. There is variety Of opinion in re-
gard to the proposition. There IS a good
| deal Of opposition on the ground that
this IS not the time 10 issue bonds.
The proposition at almost any other
/ time would meet with general approval.
The people recognize the necessity for
better roads, and that the only way to get
them IS for the county to build them, and
TO bond the county is the only way to Sc
cure the money.
The commissioners are divided on the
question. Chairman Dale is opposed to
issuing bonds, at least now. Commits
siOner Carson is strongly in favor of
bonds, and it is understood that Commits
sloner Charlton also favors the PROPOSE
ton. II is not known how Commissioners
hehoe and Chaplin stand. The matter
VIII be discussed at the next meeting,
when II will be known where and how
the commissioners are.
Mr. j. A. G.. Carson, chairman of the
drainage committee of the board of
~ NOAtllAllGSlOLCTSs Sdlu llldb bllG IGC-
ommendation of the grand Jury in favor
OF issuing bonds for the purpose of thor
oughly draining the county and providing
system Of good roads, met with his
hearty approval He will urge upon the
board of commissioners to take steps to
provide for an election to decide whether
bonds shall be issued or not.
The money would be well expended"
SAID Mr. Carson. ave have a rich
county, with nearly thirty millions of
taxable property. Its bonded debt only
amounts to 100000, issued to pay for the
building of the new court house. A very
slight increase in taxation would be sulfi-
Gent to defray the annual interest of
$4,000 upon the bonds / am satisfied
that with the county thoroughly drained
and with good roads there would
De an immense increase Immediately in
the value Of property in the county.
1 believe the increase in values would
amount to SlO,O0O,000 in ten years. An
increase of One-fourth of this amount
would suffice to pay the interest on the
bonds. ! would not favor the issuing of
the whole amount of the bonds in one
lump, but in sufficient amounts, from time
to time, as they are needed. We could
easily secure bid from some banking
concern to take the bonds as they are
issued at stated figure. Neither would
l be willing for the entire disposition of
this amount to be in the hands of the
commissioners A board of public works
TO conduct and direct the expenditure,
would be my SUCCESS lion.
The principal argument, in my opinion,
in favor of such action, " said Mr.. Carson,
lis this: Our present system of roads and
drainage has been carried to- that extent
where 1T requires almost the entire time
of the force at the disposal of the county
engineer to take care of the work already
in hand, and it becomes more and more
difficult every year to make any further
extension. We will soon reach the period
when the entire time of the force will be
required to look after and keep in
repair the existing canals and roads
and further improvement will be post
poned indefinitely unless some decided
step, as the one proposed, Is taken. 1t is
matter OF impossibility for the present
force to drain the whole county and build
good roads. We can only accomplish
these much needed improvements by issu-
ing bonds, and the sooner it is done the
better for the county"