The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-06-29

and its location. no answer can be
given that will fit every case. The
following example, which is based on
conditions that represent the average
situation in Illinois, as stated, will fur
niSh an approximate answer: Let us
assume that John Jones owns 4 quar-
ter section in township in Central H.
linois, where the county is made up Of
sixteen townships. The records of the
State Board of Equalization show that
$500 is an average assessed valua-
tion of such a farm. The assessed
valuation of farming township is
100000 or over. but we take $4,000
as the basis. Then the assessed valu-
alton of the county would be $4,S0O.OO0.
and under a State and county aid road
law (Which seems to be most equita-
ble). the cost of hard roads is divided
in three parts. charging same to State,
county and township.
ThS States portion of the cost would
be Kid in cash from the one mill tax
le&. The county and township paid
by issuing bonds, payable in twenty
annual instalments. with three ard Il
half or four per cent. interest.
To meet these bonds with the inter
est the county and township must
raise, upon an average, $1,000 a year
for twenty years.
The township tax must be spread
over 100000 valuation. which will
make the rate four mills. The county
tax must be spread over S4,S00,G0O
valuation, which makes the county tax
one fourth of a mill. So. upon the
farm in question the annual tax bill
will be:
State tax, one mill $3.50
County tax, one-quarter mill. ..... .4o
Township tax, four mills. ........ 7.2O
Total. ........ .So.fo
The above is based upon only one OF
the sixteen townships in the county
building hard roads; for every other
township where 100000 is expended
for hard roads the county tax will be
increased onc-quarter Of mill. equal
to forty-five cents quarter section,
which would have to be added to the
above. If every township in the coun-
ty should undertake at once the build
ing of q similar system Of hard roads.
the county tax on the farm would be
four mills, or $720. which, with S1.2O
township and S1.SO for State tax.
would bring the total up to $16.2O.
Suppose the farm in question is
question is planted in corn and yields
an average of forty bushels to the
acre, the tax then will represent one
fourth of a cent a bushel on the crop.
Experience shows, and l believe every
one will admit, that wideawake farm
er, having at all seasons of the year
good. hard roads, can, by watching the
market and selling his corn under the
most favorable conditions. get at least
one cent, and often five cents, bushel
more than he can under present condi-
tions. With hard roads he can take
advantage of the market: with mud
roads the markets often take advan-
tage Of him. And If our friend on the
farm will sit down, take his pencil anu
figure out the saving he can make by
hauling twice the load in half the time
by reason of the hard roads, and the
saving Of wear and tear upon his
teams, he will see that. in fact, no mat
ter how he figures, he can save the
cost of hard roads many times over
every year.
The building of hard roads on the
main thoroughfares Will reduce the
present road and bridge tax at least
oEc-half: so the cost Of hard roads IS
so evenly distributed that it does not
become burden.
Usually fifteen. or, ut most. eighteen,
miles will cover the main roads IN any
township; these can be macadamized
or gravelled, making permanent hard
road. at cost not exceeding $60OCN IN
any part of the State, and usually for
$4,000. In localities having material
close at hand the expense can be cut
TO SOO,OOU OF StU,UOO. WIN houSih
road machinery the remaining dirt
roads can be graded, crowned and
drained, greatly improving the same.
and the whole cost will not increase
the present road tax over ten cents All
acre a year. The whole question is:
Are hard roads and good roads worth
SIG year for quarter section?
Generally the cheapest and most ac-
cessible material should be used. In
about half of the State gravel can be
had: in the southern part Of the State
a very good material. known as Nova
cutie. is found: in the vicinity Of Joliet
and Chicago there is an abundance OF
all road materials. gravel. limestone
and furnace Stag. while Chicago's
great drainage canal has upon its
banks millions of cubic yards OF good
road material. and at the south end of
this stone pile is the Joliet peniten-
tiary.-Chicago Tribune.
No Pension Yet.
"Well, to be honest with you,' said