The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-11-13

AAaA aaAfAl ~. - W. aAtte
The editor Of the True Democrat
has been a persistent advocate o
roads. and has always favored
state legislation that
ties as have voted b0nf we state
construction. But ln being Q
real tax upon iha p such e0un-
ties as have II bonds ID thee State
from which came. we have OBJ
served that the Increased values al
aye more than paid the extra assess
mcntg So popular Is the good roads
movement In Alabama that a liberal
amendment 10 the State constitution
vas carried at the last election, and
by "a handsome majority. Amend
ments are usually unpopular but this
went through by q most decisive vote.
Florida should be industriously ac-
tive In good road building for the next
ten years. IL each county In the State
would vote the needed money for Inn
proved roads, the taxable values would
be Increased millions OF dollars.
The Jacksonville Times-Union puts
the matter In the proper light In the
following editorial:
"The good roads question Is now
foremost in the minds of the people
Of Florida. II Is receiving attention In
all parts Of the State. Putnam county
has voted bond issue for the purpose
Of building good roads. Escambia,
St. Lucie and other counties will prob
ably follow suit. The question Is one Of
urgent Importance, and It Is so consid-
cred by the people.
There Is need for a more rapid work
than can be paid for out OF the tax
receipts from year to year The work
can be more economically done IL
done under a general plan than IL 1t Is
done as slowly as would be necessary
on the pay-as-yOu-can idea. The small
sums that would be available from
year to year even when added to the
work done by those subject to road
duty would necessarily be scattered
over each county and would be Of no
permanent good. Bonding is neces-
sary to secure permanent results.
We do not CONSIDER bonding unwise
when II provides for the development
Of the country-for an increase in
population and in values. Money
spent on good roads provides an equi-
table increase for city, town and
country. II is in the interest Of all
the people.
Suppose an issue Of bonds necessi-
tates a 10 per cent increase In rev.
enues to meet interest payments. and
provides for the payment Of the bonds
when they come due. Are the people
of today or of the future the losers by
this? Not IL the work done increases
values to the extent of 10 per cent, for
then the needs OF the county, could be
met by precisely the SAND levy as
before.
But II % per cent increase In values
results from an issue Of bonds that
requires a 10 per cent increase In rev.
enues Il is obvious that instead OF the
bond issue imposing a burden on the
taxpayers It relieves them OF part OF
the burdens they are bearing. Inc
quick increase would be Z1arer 1OO
per cent than 20 per cent. Any man
who lives in the country knows that
he would give as much for 100 acres
of land on a good. durable hard road
as for 200 on road OF deep SAND
So a prompt expenditure OF money
for a needed.purpose is a wise ecOno-
nv. He who will not pay out money
for that which Is worth more to him
than he pays will in the end reach the
same financial destination as the recK-
lessly extravagant man.
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT-ELECT.
The last issue of the Baltimore Man
ufacturers Record contains the fol-
lowing:
Thirteen years ago, according TO
story as told a few days ago to the
writer by one Of the participants
there were gathered one evening IN
winter resort hotel on the Gulf OF
Mexico a number Of prominent public
and business men, including Senator
vest, Jerome Hill, a leading COTTON
factor of Memphis, judge OF the su-
preme Court Of Ohio, and several
others. Each man in the party was
asked to give his impression OF the
greatest man he had ever known per-
sonally. One after another told the
story of his estimate of the greatest
man he had met, until finally all had
spoken except the judge. When his
turn came he said:
81 have listened with much interest
to what you have all Gaid about great
men Of your acquaintance. l mink
know a greater than any you nave
mentioned. The man | have In view
/ a. the vvtsest and fairest counsellor