Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-06-10
VOTE ON GOOD ROADS
Citizens Ask County Court to
Submit Question to People.
Resolutions Adopted by Good Roads
Convention Tuesday Endorsed
without Dissenting Voice State
Convention to be Held here in July.

HfLuUub DtSsCuLAuS JDltD bt~tS
Convention to be Held here in July.
Both the County and Circuits ad-
journed at Two o'clock tuesday
afternoon in order that those IN at
tendance upon either might be
present at the Good Roads meeting
In the Circuit Court room. The
number present was small but there
were enough representative citizens
there to make the action OF the meet
ing indicative of the sentiment of
the county.
At a similar meeting held on May
23rd committee was appointed to
put the sentiment of the citizent in
the form of report. The commit
! tee reported as follows:
! We find unanimity of opinion
among all our taxpayers in favor of
better public roads that is highly
encouraging, but encounter great
diversity of views when the details
of tax levies, bond issues, county or
district levles, expenditure of mon
eys and location of roads to be made
or improved come to be considered.
1t is of vital importance to harmon
ize these conflicting opinions If we
expect to carry out any extensive
scheme for lettering the condition
OF our roads. Much can be done to
secure unanimity of opinion and of
action, by further discussion and a
fuller knowledge of the laws and
the limitations upon the powers OF
the County Court, and providing a
plan that will produce equality OF
taxation and of benefits.
The taxable wealth of the County
is over 81, 1862, 900, as shown by the
assessment of 1902, aud will be in
creased by the returns Of this year.
The average annual levy of district
road taxes is 25 cents on each 800
/ producing about $4,000, to which
may be added a considerable sum
paid out of the County treasury for
rights of way, bridges and other
expenses incident to keeping up the
roads and bridges of the County,
which may be safely estimated at
$4,000 more, makingss total of 49,
900, expended annually upon the
roads OF this County, with the re-
suit that the roads are gradually
growing worse and the sum total of
annual expenditure slowly increas-
+ ing.
The committee have considered
the question of road improvement
from the stand point of the district
levy. and the County levy, and are
of the opinion that the County
should undertake as whole system
of improvement. the main roadways
, in each district, so as to give to
every tax payer easy access to the
County seat and the public records
and for convenience In attending the
Courts, paying taxes. transacting
business with the banks, the Clerks
of Courts, the railroads aad the
growing manufactures of the County
seat, and access to the markets and
the State University. The District
levies may be greatly reduced, but
will still be needed for the opening
and repair OF the local and short
roads connecting with the main
lines of roadways.
To carry out this general plan a
large amount of money will be need
ed and annual levies sufficient for ths
purpose would be excessive andwould
have to extend over many years thus
delaying the work and prolonging it
indefinitely. This could only be
avoided by a bond issue which could
be floated at par, if bearing four per
cent interest. An issue OF $3.50, DOC
would impose an annual tax of S10,-
900 or Is cents or less on each $l0t
of taxable property to meet the IN
terest charge The bonds should
run for five years before any part
became redeemable, and all should
be redeemable in 80 years. or less al
the discretion Of the Court.
TIE constant Increase in the
wealth of the County can safely be
relied upon to produce income
enough to redeem the bonds within
thirty wears without increasing the
annual tax rate above Il. cents. The
district road taxes for local roads
could be fixed at ten cents, yielding
over $1,000, on present values, Du'
slowly increasing with the increas
ing wealth of the County, or this
amount could be increased ii neees
sary. If not increased, the tota
district and county levies for roao
purposes would not exceed the pres
enHdistrict and county levies for like
purposes.
The work should be begun in each
district at the same time as near as
practicable, and the money should
be expended equitably, or as near az
practicable in each district IN pro
portion to the taxes paid into tho
County treasury by each district
Careful surveys should be made
exact specifications prepared and
prescribed under the supervision o.
competent engineer and expert "
such matters, and the work let tt
contract to responsible contractors
who should be required to give
proper bonds for faithful perform
auce OF their contracts.