The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-18
Against Bonds.

| Procrustes as applied to street work Let
us work upon conservative lines. Why
does not our street committee go to the
beautiful cities of Richmond and Danville,
and Lynchburg, and seek to erase the hills
and fill up the hollows there? Would the
citizens of these places stand it as we
have done so far? Not for one moment,
for it would mean bankruptcy, and it
means the same thing here if the street
committee are allowed to work their iron
bed indefinitely.
1t would seem the part of wisdom to call
halt, to stop this extravagant expendi-
ture of money in grading and dirt moving,
ana apply the city funds available for the
purpose Of putting into something like
decent shape the many streets which sad
ly need it, If so much grading and dirt
moving is abandoned and the good natu-
raj existing grade of the streets is fol-
lowed with the macadam, these funds will
prove ample, taking into account the addi-
tlonal tax levy which | am told has been
made, and with the increased amount of
taxable property put upon the books by
the present Revenue Act.
Finally, notwithstanding my unwilling
ances of anonymous writer's, / would reply
in detail to some of their arguments but
space allowed me here will not permit
l would like to point out the beautiful
consistency with which they claim in one
breath that the laboring man should vote
for bonds as it will cost him nothing
being a renter. and in the next breath
urge the property owner to vote for bonds
as it will cost him nothing, for he can
advance his rent more than his additional
taxes will amount to. | would also like to
point out the beautiful consistency of the
apologists for the board of aldermen in
placing them before the people in the
attitude of prosecuted patriots while the
board itself will not deny that they have
failed to levy tax specifically demanded
by law, and have used money belonging
to a sinking fund provided by law for a
certain set of bonds to pay the interest
on other bonds. | would remind these
anonymous bond advocates that the
streets of city are for the use and ben
eft of all its citizens and that the argu-
ment that the opponents of this bond is
sue, having secured good streets in front
of their own homes are now for selfish
reasons, trying to deny them to others
Is a puerile and unworthy attempt to ar
ray one citizen against another. / would
like to show that the small house owner
on the outskirts is most vitality Interested
in stopping this costly method of street
work, as it falls heaviest upon him who
can least afford it. | would like to ask
the street committee why they have left
in a scandalous condition that portion of
Salisbury street between the capital
square and the Federal court building
one of the most important thoroughfares
of the city, and one over which hundreds
of vehicles pass during the twenty four
hours, while spending thousands of dol
lars cxcavating and moving earth way
out beyond Mrs. fuckers ice pond, where
hardly as many vehicles will pass in
year as pass over Salisbury street in
day. Similar instances might be noted
all over the town to show the so-called
wise and economical outlay of the city's
money, but this one will serve as an IL
lustration of the methods pursued.
There are many other things | would
like to say but space is not sufficient.
CHAS. E. JOHNSON.