The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-08-07
Pave Main Street.

On Saturday of this week it is in
the hands of the voters of this
town whether or not we go for
ward or backward. The complaint
of our people has been for years
that we are not progressive. That
our town is a back number. This
is a time for a start forward. One
of the best evidences of a progress
i've town is paved streets, When
we visit another town, and return
to our people and are asked what
kind of a town it is, we invaribly
measure up its standing among
towns by saying it has paved
streets. An argument goes out
that it is expensive and costs too
much and the taxpayers can not
afford it. Let us ask how other
towns smaller than Logan stood it.
We have good factories, good
work and good business in this
town. We are manufacturers of
paving block. That is our princi-
pie industry. If we refuse to pave
it will go out in the newspapers to
the world that Logan refused to
use her own brick for paving.
Here are hundreds of men who
spend their money in Logan that
work at the brick business. This
will help their work, this will give
encouragement to the capital that
is invested in the brick business
to recommend their output by the
actions of our own town. A vote
against street paving is a vote to
retire our brick plants which are
our principle industries. We are
striking a blow az the foundations
Of our chief support as manu-
featuring town if we defeat this
measure.
Now as to the cost. The pro-
perty of Logan is listed at
81, 0O3, 357 90 and the first year
the street paving will cost us
SO, 10000, thus on $1,000 of
valuation taxpayer will pay
$1.74 the first year, decreasing
each year as the bonds are retired.
There are very few residences in
Logan that are listed above 81 900
and 90 percent of them listed be-
low 81, 900. The ordinary dwell
ing or renting house will have
about 81 90 per year added against
it in taxes. There is some talk
that rents will be raised if street
paving carries. If any landlord
raises rents because he has to pay
81. 90 per year more tax, he will be
drummed out of town, or ought to
be. If property owner ap-
proaches a renter for higher rent
on that score be can be met with
| +ba 1ia -, hic taatb
A similar howl went up about
water-works, but now that we have
the water everybody is proud of it
and nobody has felt oppressed
about the extra amount of taxes,
and not a citizen would give up
the water for ten times the extra
that it cost him.
The city records show that we
paid, in the last five years, $4868,
40 for street improvement, $2621.
04 being spent on Main Street, and
what have wep Our streets are
worse now than ever before, and
Main Street far worse, and all
that money lost. That amount
would have paved one-sixth of the
street. When we pave Main
Street it is done once for all.
Scarcely a dollar will have to be
spent on it after it is paved.
AS to the sentiment of our peo-
pie in the matter, we have can
vassed many business men and
citizens, and we find very few
against it. Those that are against
it have been against every public
impro ovement and will OBJ
ject to entering the Pearly Gates
because the streets are paved with
gold. The old men ought to vote
for it, because in the common
course of mortality, they will pay
on it but a few dollars, and have
it's use and pleasure while they
remain on earth. The young men
ought to vote for it for in all prob
ability they will be here for many
years, and want to see the town
move forward. Let us all get to-
gether end vote to build up our