The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-10-22

CHICAGO
profession. The lawyers and profess
sional men are benefited when All 9th.
er classes are benefited The farmers
and laboring men are more especially
helped. just think for q moment Of
the condition of our roads for at least
half of the 3G5 days in each year.
Farmers who have produce TO dispose
oi are prevented from hauling same to
market on account of mud belly deep:
can scarcely pull through il on horse
back to get to their post0f!ice to get
their mail. About the time in the
spring of the year that the roads be-
come passablc the farmer, instead Of
hauling his produce TO market, has To
begin to put in his crop for the next
year. Even though he did not, the
demand has been supplied, other coun-
ties shipping their produce and furn-
ishng the market that we ought TO
supply.
Nor is that all; the laboring man
who depends almost entirely upon buy
ing all that he snbsists upon has to pay
the expense of getting these products
from other quarters; hence the labor
ing man will readily see that on the
purchase of one or two articles he will
pay more than one years tax. The
laboring men of this county are no: as
sessed on an average of over 5000
each, making taxes on an average of
not exceeding 70c. a year for the first
five years and jOc. less for each sue
ceeding five years, The average farm
er's tax will not exceed $500 each, or
an average tax Of Sl.7j the first five
years, with n decrease of soc. for each
corresponding five years This esii.
mate includes bonds and interest.
Well, says one, have no confidence
in our County Court. just see what
our County Courts have done with the
limited means in their hands for the
last seven years We now have about
80 miles of good rock roads. Well,
says one, they haven't managed it
right. will admit there may have
been some mistakes made, but would
say there is no one who has not made
some mistakes, but on that account did
not quit aud lie down and die, but
took hold with renewed energy and
strength aud tried to improve on his or
her past experiences. am perfectly
willing to trust our present Court, or
any Court 20 succeed the present, that
the people may elect.
Another argument or excuse is made
by few: IL would be willing il it
could be n direct tax" They mean
to say II the Court could collect the
$4,000 at one time. That might
suit n few to pay all at one time, but
where it would suit one there would be
at least one hundred it would not suit
Common sense teaches any intelligent
man that il is much easier to pay their
pro rasa of the 5000, 900 in 20 years
time than in one year, am satisfied
that the parties offering that argument
are not sincere; it is done only for the
purpose of defeating the proposition
for good roads.
The assessed valuation of our county
has increased from one million TO FIVE
millions in the last 20 years. Give us
good roads and in the next 10 years
our county will be assessed at ten mil
lions, and our taxes will be only half
what they are now. Taking into con-
sideration that at least ee-iourlhs of
our taxes are paid by the railroad and
lead corporations of our county, the
tax on the farmers and laboring mnu
will be comparatively small.
In conclusion, desire to say that
this is the opportunity OF our lives;
that no voter should be afraid to come
out in favor of public improvements
for the general utility Of every one.
interests as to let this measure be de-
fca,ed, they ought to have to travel
through mud belly deep all the re-
mainder of their days, leaving the
same conditions for their children and
grand children to travel in; and es-
pecially the laboring man, who has to
depend upon the markets for bis liy-
ing, who would act so silly as to let
this opportunity pass, ought to pay
double the amount for his produce.
Now, let every man, white or blnck,
Republican or Democrat, consider this
question seriously and without any
prejudice, and on the 3ra day Of No
vember, 1908, east not only two thirds
Of the votes, but let it be unanimous
vote In favor Of advancement. instead
of standing by old foggyism
Respectfully,
w. II. You've.