Smyrna times., 1903-05-06

In its reply to the Dover HldeC con-
cerning the financial affairs of Kent
county, a subject now under much
discussion since the raising of tax rate
from As to 60 on the hundred dollars,
the Dover State Sentinel tells some
facts of interest to our tax payers
generally. Here IS what the Sentinel
says:
"Our memory runs back to a time
when a new stone bridge was built at
the Water Works at a cost of So, 900.
The first storm that came washed the
whole thing into the creek and a new
bridge was built at an additional cost
of $1,000. The committee on con-
struction had Just reported to the
court and pronounced it all right,
when a breathless messenger burst
into the courtroom with the news,
''The bridge is gone" This is a mat
ter of record and can be proven.
''The rebuilding of the road known
as the Light House road has cost the
county SO, 400 instead of $4,000 as
stated by the I,ade6. We find by the
minutes of the Levy Court in 1900
that James Truax spent in special or
ders 81, ,541. 80, besides the regular
appropriation of $500, on the Wood
land Beach road; and in the face of
that expenditure, Mr.. Baggs was con-
fronted with the problem of stopping
break in the banks of the creek at
an expense of $S, 400, which if taken
in time by Mr.. TEusx, could have been
done for $3.50.
The L1der says: "No one ever
heard of the release of the securities
on a defaulting collectors bond by
the Democratic Levy Court of Kent
County as has been done by the Re-
publican Levy Court of Sussex coun-
ty." If that be true, then what does
this resolution mean, which appears
upon the minutes of the Levy Court of
this county. This bond is still unpaid
and on the passage of the resolution,
eight Democrats voted for it and two
Republicans against it.
Resolved by the Levy Court Of Kent County, at
its regular session held Oct. Sd, A d. 1893, That
the said Levy Court hereby agrees TO accept the
sum Os two hundred dollars $500 from Lucius
Campbell and the sum of one hundred dollars
(Sl00J from Titus /. Hobbs in full payment of
all their liability as snretics upon the official
bond uf Benton V. Weldon, late collector of
taxes for Duck Creek Hundred, upon the exc
cutiOn and delivery of bond IN the sum of five
hundred dollars $500 by the said Benton V.
Weldon and wife, in payment of the indebted
ness Of the said Benton V. Weldon to Kent
County.
Be ii further resolved. That the attorney Of this
Court be and is hereby authorized and empower
ed 10 enter full and complete satisfaction upon
the record of the judgment now held by the said
County of Kent in the aame of the state of Della
ware against the said Benton V. Weldon and his
suretes and others
Adopted Oct. g. 1899
cit IS also a matter Of record that in
1893, under Democratic rule, Thomas
Lowe, the County Treasurer, bor-
TOwed $4,000 and the amount is still
unpaid. In February of 1895, James
7. Startling, County Treasurer, bor-
rowed $4,000, and in May, three
months later, he borrowed s., 900 more
for the county's use.
"Our roads and bridges were never
IN q worse condition than when the
Republicans took charge of the coun-
ty's affairs, and in the face of all the
borrowed under Democratic
10 it is but reasonable to ask
what became of it?