Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-10-16
FACING THE SITUATION.

Now that the Local Option cleo
ton is over, we think it well for
the taxpayers of the Town to take
under consideration the matter of
the Towns indebtedness, and the
means to be employed in meeting
the Corporations necessary ex-
penditures.
1t Is not our purpose to criticise
the present administration for any
past acts, but we merely desire
to place before the Taxpayers the
simple facts of the case (as we see
them), and suggest some remedies.
We believe it is true that the
Town Council went into the con-
struction Of the Reservoir on the
Blue Ridge fully believing that the
work could be completed for the
estimated sum (S4, 900, we BELIEVED.
But, now that it has been so
clearly demonstrated that the work
will cost nearly twice that sum be-
fore it is completed, let us look for
the ways and means of obtaining
the money.
The Council probably felt posi-
tive that the current revenues of
the Town were amply sufficient to
make a $4,000 expenditure on the
Mountain, and went ahead under
that impression. We agreed with
that view of the matter.
Since the cost of the work will
total almost double the estimated
cost, and since the abolition of the
saloon revenue will cut down the
Towns total annual income about
$4,000, we think the only logical
manner in which the debt can be
handled Is to vote for a bond issue
of $4,000 to take up all the out
standing obligations connected with
the work on the water system, and
thus leave the annual revenue free
for application to the current ex-
penses of the Town and the pay
ment of annual interest on the
bonded debt.
We are not confronted by a the
Dry; we are facing a fact.
We do not believe that either an
increase of taxation or bond issue
would have been necessary if the
work on the Mountain had come
within the $4,000 estimate (We say
this in anticipation that someone
will say that the proposed bonding
Is caused by the loss of the saloon
revenue, for Weldon tbelievet that at
alb; but the fact that the town
needs the money is more important
than any argument of estimated"
and actual cost can be. The
Town is in a financial hole" at
present, and all argument as TO
cause should be dropped, while
every good citizen should turn to
contemplation of ways and means
of getting the Corporation out of
this hole"
We believe the best, the most
sensible, the most logical, and the
proper way in which 20 bridge the
difficulty is by the issuance of
$4,000 in bonds.
As we understand the law gov
erning such matters, it will be nee
essary to have an act of the Legis-
lature passed providing for an
election, so that the will of the
people can be ascertained as to
whether they favor bonding the
Town or oppose it.
II, after the Legislative act is
passed. the people vote in favor OF
bonds, then they can be issued. il
the majority vote against bonds,
then they cannot be issued.
We believe a large majority OF
the Taxpayers will favor bond
issue If the facts are clearly pre-
sented to them, and we shall have
something to say hereafter on the
subject.
The opinion OF any taxpayer is
also asked FOR by the COURIER, and
we shall be glad to print any letter.
giving briefly the views of the
writer. The letters must be signed