Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-05-14


wagons, etc. Besides this the at
tendance would be much more regular
and better results could be obtained for
n child could attend q school within a
reasonable distance from his home in
bad weather when his parents would
mot think of allowing him to start out
for long walk downtown OF to the
| West End. This Is one of the strong
est reasons for q new building, as
every day lost by pupil means a
great deal to teacher, pupil and class.
| while Ave or siX-room building
would be ample to meet the needs at
present 1t would be very foolish to
build anything less than an eight-room
building. for 1t will be very few years
before all OF that and even more Is
needed. and experience has shown
that 1t is better to be prepared for such
n condition than to have to depend ON
make-slift preparations at the very
, last moment when the necessity ar
| rives. .t' 'i'
! LET us hope that the patrons, Of
licors, friends and authorities of oui.
public schools will see their needs and
rise 10 meet them in The proper spirit
II is to this very thing that we owe
our success i'll the past. and our fine
school system at the present. Let us
not take step backward and lose
ground in the next year'o two on ac-
count Of false economy III not supply
| inS the proper and necessary accOms
modalions for our grades. teachers,
and pupil3 of every section of our
town"
ea-olea anjduuSaenryaM uBwtscho
| My object in writing this article is
to call attention to the fact, that
though ali act of the General AS
sembly. approved April 4, 1904. permit
ting the commissioners mentioned In
The act, composed OF the best of the
representative men Of our county, to is
sue and sell bends to the amount of
$4,000 for repairing the bridges and
reads of our county, 50 far as | am in
formed. nothing has been done. To me
it seems imperative that these COM
missioners, Qor they could not have
been better or more wisely selected)
should be empowered To issue bonds to
| the amount OF 100000 900 To be
| used i'll building high school in the
| town of Hampton and $4,000 TO be
expended on the public roads of the
| county. This money could not be more
wisely expended than in this way
Good roads would prove IL blessing to
the whole county and besides, the
| the money would be spent in the coun-
| ~. giving employment to our own
citizens. enabling the farmer to trans.
port the product of his farm to the.
| market with less expense. The coun5
| try could be moro quickly reached !
the farmers land would increase in
value. his church privileges would be,
orr innrT.caI hic
ry larger burdens new people would
soon find their way to our county. In
| TACT the blessings that would ensue
from having roads scientifically built
would be so manifest. that would tire
| my readers by recalling them.
| am not in favor VI eXempting the
| town OF Hampton and Phoebus from
| taxation for, this purpose, for what
concerns the county concerns them;
what is to the material advantage OF
The farmer brings wealth to them. The
question now solely rests on the fact,
whether or not the county can afford
10 be further laXed to an amount OF not
more than $4,000 per anum. am in
favor of Issuing 30-year bonds, elm.
mating the sinking fund clause of the
act Of 1904. We are willing to assume
this obligation for not only would we
us by the building of suitable roads III
the county but our children would
have the same privilege. Moreover.
in the next 80 years the taxable val
ues will be increased enormously, so
the burden of interest would become
Hess and less each year. Again, the
earning capacity Of money is less each
lyear. When this issue of bonds be-
lcomes due, | have no doubt but that
Tit could be funded at far less rate,
| respectfully ask your earnest atten-
ton to the following letter received
iifrom Mr.. Holt
| Hampton. Va, May 1st, 1905.
l,"H. L. SchmelZ, Esq,
| Hampton, Va
l,"My Dear MI Schmelz:
In response to your request for data
ilshowing the assessed value OF property
lin this county and the tax rates there.
Ion imposed for this year and for ten
land twenty years ago, beg to sub
NIT the following statement, gathered
from the land and property books OF
the commissioners OF the revenue and
the record of proceedings OF the
PICARD OF supervisors, to wit:
| Total value CT all real and personal
property in The county assessable with
lItaXes for the year 1885. 1897 .012.4S.
h Tax rate for 1885:
| $l,00 on each 500 valuation for
county purposes.
&c on each $500 valuation for conn-
~ school purposes
l2c on each 500 valuation for dis
trict school purposes
/ ST go per cap. on each male adult in,
county for road purposes.
soc per cap. OH each tithable in