The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-10-01
The Road Bonding Question.
LIBERTY TWP., Sept 20.

iihIshl W =, btIlt ~.
EDIToR TINES: have from
time to time noticed something
in your columns from the voters
and taxpayers of ST. Francois
county in regard to the coming
election for the purpose of bonding
the county for $500, 900 to build
rock roads; but think that most
of the farmers are undecided as 10
just which way it would be best
for them to vote on this PROPOSE
ton. do not claim to be an au.
thority on the subject, but | have
given it some thought, and will
endeaver to give the readers of THE
TIMES Il few pointers on the sub
ject that will possibly put them
right when It comes TO voting, ard
| want to apply my remarks espec-
tally to the Loughboro correspond
ent's article of August.
Now figures don lie, and | will
just put the whole proposition in
figures aud try to make it plain
enough for even the Loughboro
gentleman to see his mistake when
he said we would all have to work
ourselves to death to pay off this
tax. y In the first place, the Rail
road companies, the Mining com
panies and the Telephone company
pay little over three fourths Of
the taxes of ST. Francois county,
Us per cent correct estimated; so
YOU see, if we bond the county for
5000, 600, there will be $3.50, 900 of
the principal and threefourthS of
the interest paid by the corpora.
tions, leaving only $50, 900 princi-
pal and one fourth the interest to
be paid off by taxation of private
property, The first years interest
at ) per cent would only amount
to 81 800 for the private property
owners to pay, leaving 81 800 in
terest to be paid by the corpora
tiOns. There are at n close esti-
mate 1000 taxpayers in the county,
and an average of fifty cents each
would pay the first years interest
on the $50, 900, and an average
tax of one dollar each for ten years
would pay off the principal, and
the interest would be cut down nj
each annual payment of principal,
in proportion.
OF course the tax will be levied
per valuation of property Instead
Of per capita, but it will not cost
the average well.to.do farmer more
than S. per annum on an average
for ten years to build this 100 miles
of road; and who of lis is it that
wouldn't give five dollars year
Tor whole life time, to have roads
we could travel in all kinds of
weath her with heavy loads without
having to lose our tempers and
kill up our teamsf | think
that my neighbors in Liberty town.
ship have had the same experience
with mud that | have had, and
am sure when they and the other
farmers from over the county, who
have had like experience with
the mud, see that they can get this
100 miles Of road with so very
little individual cost, that they
will turn out en- masse and vote for
the good roads.
think the merchants of all our
towns will see the benefit it will be
to them to have good road all
the time. They will have uni
form trade, and things will be in a
better shape generally all over the
county, while real estate will be
nearly doubled in value in the out.
lying districts of the county, if the
people have access to good roads
leading to the larger towns where
they can market their produce,
wood, grain, &c. [ would like TO
hear from some of my brother far
mers in regard to this question.
A FARMER FROM
FROM LIBERTY TWP.