The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1907-03-29
THE ROAD BONDS.

Editor The CHRONICLE:
The two questions upon which the
people Of Benton County are invited to
decide next Saturday are very import
ant to the future welfare of our people,
and especially the farmers, to which
class yours truly" proud to acknowl-
edge allegiance.
A great many people do not properly
understands proposition, especially
the bond issue. / am indeed sorry that
speakers were not sent into each district
to explain both propositions, but it is too
late to do this now. Unless the advo-
Gates OF these two measures should make
it a point to properly and carefully ex-
pain these questions, in my humble
judgement they are both irretrieveably
lost. Itisa selfevident proposition that
we can't have roads built to all our prem
ises first or at once. 1t is only just and
right that we should first build the road
that will accommodate the largest num-
Der of our citizens, and no man should be
so narrow and contracted in his views as
to oppose the measure on the ground
that he can't have the first road built by
his own door.
The writer is so unfortunately located
as to be on or rather near a road that
will undoubtedly be one of the last to be
benefited by this movement.
To those who are so unfortunatelys sit
uated as ! am with reference to roads,
will say the sooner we build the roads
on which the main travelling is done the
sooner will orr time come Let us, my
friends, take this broad, liberal view of
the matter and 90 to the polls next Sat
urday and vote and work for the propo-
sition which is so important to our ma
terial advancement.
The most plausible and apparently
patriotic objection urged against the
bond issue is "that it will saddle debt
upon our children" This may be true,
but come, let us reason together. ''In
much counsel there is wisdom" tits
condition and not theory that confronts
us. If any one doubts this fact let him
pause and think how our roads wereonly
a few weeks or a month ago Now, my
friends, as legacy or heritage to be
handed down to our children, which, in
your best judgment, is worse, a little In
debtedness or system of awfully bad
roads? Which is the greater evil, to be
in debtor few years or to be mud-bound
and unabeto get out ofsight ofyourown |
domicile without danger of breaking
your neck for eight months in the year? |
You will be forced to bequeath one OF
these conditions to your children. Now |
since we are forced to accept one of two |
evils, does not wisdom and prudence
suggest that we choose the least? II by |
our taxation 25 cents ON the |
hundred dollars worth of property we
can build a system of roads in say TWEEN
ty years that will be good, perfect roads
at all seasons of the year for generations
to come, does not common reason and
business principles suggest that it is a
good paying investment? We think it
can be done.
Times are fourishing, business condi-
tons are good, money if plentiful and
easy, rate Of interest low if we ever ex-
pect to build good roads certainly now is
-he time.
My friends, let me say to you that am
not bloated bond holder; that / never
clipped acoupon in my life; that never
expect to clip any; that l am expecting
10 reap no benefits from this movement
beyond those that shall accrue to all
poor farmers alike. Hence my
motives are not selfish.
We all agree that we need good roads
that something must be done but there
is some differences as to methods. 1t
has ever been thus. Surely we should
ay aside these differences on al minor
points and come together on this one
plan, which undoubtedly has more advo-
Gates than any other or all other plans
If we let this opportunity
pass without utilizing it. when shall we,
my friendsJ ever hope to be in position
70 build good roads? Echo answers,
when ?''
Are we an intelligent people? Are we
energetic? Are we abreast
)f the timas9 IN ont rpon any pt,h1io |