The record-union., 1897-11-21

resident contractors and help. We have
decided to construct substantial stone
bridges across the three creeks on the
road, and, wherever necessary, stone
culverts will be placed.
The appropriation in rock and gran
ite is estimated at $4,000, but since
no money was appropriated for the con-
struction of this road, there is only
one place from which such a fund can
be Obtained, and that is from the coun-
ty. We are, therefore, called upon to
request the citizens of our county to
raise the sum necessary to avail our
selves of this rock appropriation and
to profit by the advantage this oppor-
tunity affords to obtain for the expendi-
ture Of $4,000 a road which under
other circumstances would cost nearly
twice that sum-
This commission appeared before the
Board of Supervisors on several occa-
sions and asked that the fund be Gre
ated by direct taxation upon the prop
erty of Sacramento County. The board
directed the County Surveyor to make
an estimate of the cost of this work
and solicited the cooperation of the
Commissioners of the Department OF
Highways. The joint estimate was
that such a road could be construct
ed as was contemplated by the Legis-
lature for $4,000.
On the advice of the District Attor-
ney the board refused to levy direct
tax. In the opinion of the District
Attorney the city could not be taxed
for road purposes, and the board did
not desire to place the whole of this
burden of $4,000 on the county alone.
We then asked that they call a spe-
cial election for the issuance of bonds
in this amount, and the board, acting
under the opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral, on the 9th day of October de-
cided to call an election for Saturday,
December 4, 1897, and therein submit
to the people of the county the question
whether they would authorize the is
suance of bonds in the amount of SO
0G0, running for a term or period of
twenty years, redeemable after the ex-
piration Of ten years, and bearing in
terest at per cent. per annum, the
fund to be used in the construction of
this road.
Let us look at this matter from a
business standpoint When we analyze
the proposition we find that many ad-
vantages will result from this particu-
lar bond issuance, but we are not to
be understood as being in favor of all
bond issuance. Here is a case where
the matter can only be reached by an
issuance of bonds and where the good
that results more than offsets the
amount invested including the payment
of interest for the full period. Now
the value of property in this county,
as shown by the assessment roll of 1896,
is So, 100000 and we use this valua-
tion for the reason property viii not
decrease in the coming twenty years,
and in the course of progress will in
crease
The bonds will be of the denomina-
ton of 81, 800 each, the payment to
commence at the end of the tenth year,
and The law provides for the redemption
of at least one bond of this character
each year after the termination of one
half the period of the bonds. The in
terest on $4,000 at per cent. for the
first ten years will be $1,000 per year.
For the first ten years, then. the an
each 500, or 90 cents on $4,000.
AT the end of the tenth year your
taxes will be increased S.O31 on 500.
or $40 on $4,000, because the fund
TO be raised will include both the in
terest $4,000 and the first bond re-
demption fund $1,000. making to-
tai Of $4,000. AT the end of the twen-
tieth year your tax will be SO25 on
each 500, or $3.50 on $4,000.
Now, at a low estimate, in the COM
ing twenty years it will cost more than
5000 yearly TO sprinkle and repair
this road, and if this roadway is con-
strueted, as is here proposed. then the
county saves this expenditure or more
than the $4,000 in twenty years. for
the reason the State will maintain. re-
pair sprinkle and care for the road af-
ter its construction by us. Were the
county TO pay this, the paymea It
would be made, as it is now, out Of the
general county fund. which is the fund
raised by the taxation of the entire
property in the county. What are
known as road funds are raised by
country property taxation. and city
property cannot be taxed for road i'm
at least two bridges be constructed on
this road, one over each of the two
large creeks. and over the principal or
Alder Creek there will of necessity be
constructed deep span bridge of
probably seventy feet.
The Department of Highways has
estima ted that these bridges, at the low
est, viii cost $4,000, but to place the
cost at SO. 900 would be nearer the
actual cost. And we may say here that
over each creek we intend building such
bridge as will last until all of us are
departed. Now, bridges are paid for
out of the general county fund. but in
theory they should be paid for out of
the road funds, the provision of the law
being that by a vote of two-thirds OF
the Supervisors such construction can
be paid for out of this fund. The pro-
cedure, however, has been in the main
TO expend the moneys in the general