The record-union., 1899-12-06
OPPOSES The NEW FERRY.
AN INFORMAL TALK TO THE
SUPERVISORS.
Farmer Johnston Of CORTLAND Dis
pels the Gloom In the super- Il
visors' Room.

w
Courtland took a few shots at the Su-
pervisors yesterday, and they shot
back. Only spit balls" were used, anu
no damage was done.
Mr.. Johnston had occasion to visit
the boardroom. and as it was nnance
day the members had nothing on hand
except the examination of demands, SO
he proceeded to stir them up in a good
natured manner.
You fellows will be very tired OF
this free ferry business before you get
through with it," said the gentleman
from CORTLAND
why. what's the matter with the
free ferry?" asked ellis.
We'll, it's all wrong, replied john
ston. There is no justice in taxing
citizens of this county for the expense
of a free ferry to enable people from
another county to run their products
into this market in competition with
u.s. You would take money out of my
pocket to provide free transportation
for Yolo farmers to bring their products
into our local market and compete with
mine. That's what it amounts to-
ellis suggested that, while the Yolo
farmers might bring their products here
for sale, they would also spend their
money here for the things they need.
and this would more than offset any
slight reduction caused by placing their
stuff on the market He didn't believe
in building wall about the city.
Mr.. Johnston said he spoke for him
self. The people across on the Yolo
side of the river are engaged in the
h1xc hA &c or,6 Of
is to be taxed in order that they may
come to market without cost to them
selves.
How would you like it, Mr.. Gillis."
he asked, ito be compelled to pay a
license for carrying on your livery
stable, if some one were invited to come
here and open up a stable in the same
block and not be required to take out a
licenSe?"
We'll" replied the Supervisor, that
just what you farmers have been doing
to us stablekeepers until recently. For
many years | paid a stable license, and
/ have had my own horses stand idle
in their stalls on the Fourth of July.
while the farmers brought theirs into
town by the scores and hired them out
to the military. And they didn't have
any license to pay"
This round was clearly in the Super
visor's favor, but the man from Court
land came up in good shape when the
bell tapped.
Mr. Johnston said he was in favor OF
free bridges and free roads. but only
within the county and for the benefit
of the people of the county. He was
opposed to taxing our own citizens to
provide free ingress to others who
wished to compete with them
Then the river road south of Free
port was taken up for discussion in an
informal way. Mr.. Johnston said he
had travelled over a great deal of the
county lately, but had found no road in
such poor condition as that along the
river for several miles south of Free
port
This was encroaching on Supervisor
jenkins territory, and the member
from the Fifth District took I'D the
gauntlet. He commended that the board
had done all in It's power to provide a
better road down along the river, and
had made liberal propositions to the
land owners, but they had not been ac-
cepted-
The truth is he said, "the land
owners down there want the county to
build a high. broad levee along the
river to protect them from inundation,
under pretext of building a road. Now,
the board has offered to do its share in
the matter of getting a good highway
if the land owners would stand proper
proportion of the expense in order TO
get both a road and a strong levee.
Whenever they see fit to come here
with petition-the only way in which
the board can take cognizance of the
matter-and agree to do the right thing.
then the board will be ready to decide
what it can do. S.
The discussion, which was wholly in
formal, drifted to various subjects,
which were talked over ina pleasant
manner. and as Mr.. Johnston was taxi
ing his leave some one. as a. parting
shot, twitted him about the free ferry.
That's all right" said Mr.. Johnston
as he disappeared through the door,
but you'll find you won't be allowed
to draw any warrants to pay for 1t.
But the members of the board do not
think he is so deeply in earnest in his
apparent opposition to the free ferry
that he will interpose legal obstruction
to the enterprise
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