The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-05-03

MIR. Manning Tells Something About
Bonds and Asks Questions.

UUnuO uuu MONO Vu0Ouuu%
To the Editor-Mr. Allen, in the
beginning of this article. promised ito
get up a statement from the records"
/ have read the statement, but I do
not find it from the records"
l. Take up the bond issue for the
Durham and Toxboro railroad. Mr..
Allen has been a member Of the board
of county commissioners for six years.
Why did he not make provisions to
pay the principal Of these bonds?
Why, as chairman, did he not inform
himself when the bonds would be-
come due? The records showed.
Why, as an officer Of the county, did
he go to sleep on this matter. When
he was elected coun'-- commissioner,
he found a tax levy Of cents on the
800 and IL cents on the poll for the
payments Of the bonds. He cut 1t
down to cents on property and 6
cents on the poll. Why does he now
raise the cry that the county COM
missioners are not allowed to let a
county's credit be impaired" If Mr..
Allen knew these railroad bonds were
to fall due on January /, 1907, why
did he not provide for their payment?
This was his plain duty. II he did
not know, he was derelict in his doty,
because as chairman Of the board ii
was his duty to know. At the time
these bonds were voted, this was the
only other railroad that we saw any
prospect Of getting through the coun
". We then had only one-the North
Carolina railroad-now We have seven
The building Of the road to Roxbort
and Lylchburg brught others. In ad
dition, the tax books now In the sher
IFS Office show that this railroad II
valued In the county at s277, 1894
and paid this year in taxes, the rate
being IS cents. to the county s20s,375
We voted 5000. 900 In bonds; we hay'
on the tax books for all time thiI
property and its present valuation 4
$277,7 1894. Other railroads that hav'
come since have added more than 81,
100000 to the taxable property Of tn,
county, not 50 bad a bargain after all
2. Capt. Allen is wrong when b.
says the good road building did no
begin until 1899. II began in 1897 b.
. Durham township. In 1899 under Al
act Of the Legislature, the building o
roads was turned over to the count.
} commissioners, and Durham TOWNSHIP
gave It's road machinery to the cour
ty. Up to 1901 each townships roal
fund was separate. and could be spen
only In that township. That wa
} changed by the law Of 1901. and tn
; road money was turned into cor
, mon fund.
! II Capt. Allen was giving a STATE
ment from the records, why did b
r not tell the people how much none
-, had been collected in taxes for roa
= building? whw does he promise {
T build in the future ten or twelve mile
. a year? He has beea building for 81
4 years. Why don't he tell how man
miles have been built in those ri
I years? Why does he nave 10 gues
b at It? Squire Allen promises 10 spea
. from the records, and yet he don
tell how much money has been sper
Z and how many miles have beeu bui
e nor how much the roads have co
% per mile. why7 Why cCes he 81
100000 will build oaly 60 miles
i That IS $1,000 per milo. Have Il
u roads built cost that much! y 20. I
al us know from the record 'faa SOUL
n. Allen forgotten that two years 81
- last fall be published an official stat
Y ment to the people Of this 'orn:y
le which he stated a. average est y
- mile was $500? Why does he no
, double this? which Ia true? did
lu make the state nedt tSo years ago
he catch voters? why does he promi
4 the people Of t!,e county that, II 4
bonds are not Issued ard he as
Jul member Of the board Of comrnisBiC
d. era. IL left in control Of the road bui
,a Ing. he will build % or IL miles .
- year with s5O.0007 Where will We I
al the $4,000 per Year, He says
rt present road fund is $4,000. An
ur crease 10 $4,000 means $4,000 7
ho year or about 80 per cent. Docs
" propose to raise valuations Of propeI
40 80 per cent TO increase the road 10
90 to $4,000? Are the people Of
y county willing 10 this? The bonds G
= be issued and paid without lncres
ne Of taxation or valuation. Why d.