Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-04-26
A QUESTION OF COUNTY FINANCES
AND GOOD ROADS.
From Maryland Republican,


The report OF accountant Rogers on
the county finances, shows that the
county is indebted in the aggregate in
the amount of 1892, S42 13. Counting
the levy of 1902 TO be made on May 31st
and other offsets or credits, amounting
in the aggregate TO $1S1 ,076.70, and de-
Quoting this amount from the aggregate
debt, il will be seen that he finds the
floating debt of thecounty TO be 81 ,745,
AZ. This is not a bad showing. 1t is, on
the contrary, very good showing and
one which ought to and will, no doubt,
prove very satisfactory TO the taxpayers
generally; for it shows that the county is
in good shape financially. Witheconom-
ical management this floating debt ought
to be wiped out before the 1908 levy is
made. Mr., Rogers recommends the bond
cash basis This method, however, as
he admits, is debatable. There is much
co be said for and against IL a system
for the collection of taxes can be devised
SO IA to insure their prompt collection,
say even within two years, there is little
question, we think, that it would be to
tine interest OF the county to issue bonds
and get on cash basis; for then the cash
basis could be maintained. But ii the
collection Of taxes is TO drag along as
now, then the bonding of the county
would, we think, be unwise, as we should
inevitably in few years find that we
could not maintain the cash basis. We
desire particularly to call the attention
OF the taxpayers of the county to that
part OF the report which deals with the
public roads. 1.-The amount of money"
says the accountant, expended for roads
aud small bridges would, perhaps, attract
the attention of almost anyone going
over the books of the county. l notice
that the amount ofexpendituresf for these
items M represented by cash orders and
certificates OF indebtedness for the years
1895 10 1901, inclusive, is 1894, 6S0.60."
OF this 1894 ,6S0.60, ~, 62S.2 was spent
ON large bridges, leaving 1907, 051.3S
bridges Besides $4,000 was spent in
building Curtis Creek bridge. lis not this
N very large amount to have been expen-
ded during six years for such roads as
we have2 IL is true that our roads are
much better than they were few years
ago, but have they improved during the
last six years in proportion to this very
large expenditure put upon themP Are
they worth TO the people of the county
1907, 051.3S more than they Were six
years agoP While conceding and ae-
Acknowledging their great Improvement,
we do not think the roads show value
for this 1907 ,051. 3S which has been put
upon them. 1t is, of course, of no use to
dwell upon this matter. The money has
beet spent lie is gone and that is the
end of il. All we have for il is ourpresent
roads and the experience. But can't we
better by the experience Must we go on
spending upwards of 100000 every six
years upon our roads and not getting
roads commensurate with such an ex-
penditure? Can't we devise a system
whereby we can for this amount of money
get good roads, permanent roads, roads
which il will require very little TO repair?
How much money will it take to make
good roads in the county? In twelve
years, II we go on as we have for the
past six, we viii spend over 5000, 900 on
Ia la .f.vlat Gnnn nnn
Can we make good roads with some
amount OF money raised by the issue of
bonds, 40 that the whole cost, including
interest, sinking fund and repairs shall
not exceed say for eighteen years 5000,
600. ii we can and can get the good
roads at once, even if they last but the
eighteen years, we would certainly be no
worse of SO far as taxes are concerned,
and would be.much better OFF in all other
respects; for il is conceded by everyone
that good roads enhance the value of
property and bring good results general
". If the roads can with such an
amount OF money be so constructed as
To last longer than eighteen years, say
thirty years or more, then, in addition to
the comfort, pleasure and profit of inn
mediate good roads. the saving in act
ual taxes to the people of the county
would be enormous. 1t would after
the first years decrease their tax bills
by almost the whole amount of
the road tax.