The record-union., 1897-11-21

county fund upon bridges, and to take
little for that purpose out Of the road
funds.
But in this deduction of tax rates we
will leave this element Of taxation out
of consideration, and the reason we do
so is that there is no way by which
we can estimate the expenditures for
this purpose, from the fact we do not
know whether the Supervisors will con-
struct these bridges out of this fund
or leave the matter of the Improvement
of some particular road go for period
Of years and devote the funds to the
bridge construction. This can be done
by the Supervisors, but they have acted
upon the policy that the county at large
Is as much interested in bridge con-
struction as are the country people.
We will take, therefore, only the
50, 200 pear year estimated cost of
spr-inkling, which is paid out of the gen.
eral fund, and in the twenty years this
will amount to S44 600 To raise this
sum would necessitate a tax levy of
two-thirds of cent per year on each
500; therefore,. in the first ten years
your tax rate would be increased only
0024. instead of .O09 on each $1OO, or
"A on each $4,000, and for the tenth
year 021 instead of .021 on the 500,
or 81 10 on $4,000, and the reduction
for the rest Of the period of twenty
years would be at the same rate. The
increase in the tax rate averaged per
year would not far exceed .O15 ON 500
per year or 81 80 ON $4,000.
This, as is stated above, is based on
the cost of sprinkling and repairs only.
but instead of the general fund paying
S44, 600 in twenty years if we place the
figures at $4,000 it will reach nearer
the actual expenditures that will ac-
crue. and we may here state that in
the year 1896 $4,000 was expended
from the general county fund for bridge
purposes and $500 for sprinkling,
while so far in this year 81, 500 has been
expended from this account for sprink-
ling
But what will be the benefits accru-
ing for this increase of tax rates? Let
lis enumerate some. If this roadway
is maintained by the State, the general
road fund and the district road funds
will be relieved of the entire expendi-
lures now made upon them, and there
fore those funds will be applied, out of
the district road fund, to the improve
ment of the roads in that district, and
out of the general road fund to the i'm
provement Of all the roads in the coun-
ty. If this results, and there is no
other procedure governing the expend-
iture of funds. then good roads will be
made with this money, or at least some
other road Will be as much more i'm
proved, as the district ard general road
funds are relieved of the burden of ex-
penditures on this road
Then, again, good roads increase the
valuation of the property of the coun-
try and of the city, and if the building
of this road Will cause all other roads
in the county to be improved, then there
is reason for voting for this particular
measure. 1t is known fact that
among the legislators strong objection
is urged each session to the mainte-
nance of the rock crushing plant at the
Folsom prison. If, therefore, by the
construction of this road we can demon
strate to the legislators that this plant
is money saving establishment, what
will result?
One thing-and that a good resulting
TO the benefit of Sacramento County
more than to any other county-a sub
statial reduction in the price Of broken
rock. For by this plant we now receive
our crushed or broken rock for very lit
tie more than one-half the former cost,
and as a result our street and road con-
tracts are proportionally less. What
would this mean to our county? To
Sacramento City alone it would mean
more than 100000 saved in twenty
years, and to the county outside an
equal amount in one-t third the time.
Can the residents of Sacramento City
doubt but that this road means much
benefit to the city? Let them but ask
the hotel men, the livery men, and all
others who come in contact with our
visitors, and they will be convinced
that the construction of such high
way means very much to the city. The
good resulting would not alone benefit
the town more than the country, for
amoung our visitors are those who,
upon a favorable impression of the
country, would permanently locate in
the country; whereas, now, nothing can
induce such a person to take a ride
over such dusty and ill-kept roads as
we have in the country. Let there be
at least one good. substantial and ser
vicea bic road in the county, and Others
viii soon follow.
This election will cost but little; the
services of the election officers and the
polling places in the First, Second,
Third, the most part of the Fourth, and
some of the Fifth Supervisor District
Precincts have been donated to the
cause of this good road construction
c. A. LUHRS,
p. c. COHN,
n. H. LAURIDSON,
Folsom Highway Commissioners.
Charles L. Hughes, Secretary.