Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-11
BOND ISSUE THE THING.
Posterity Shares the Benefit and Pos
terity Should Help.

question, recognizing the tact tnat the
development and prosperity Of the
country and increase in land values are
involved in the question. We all know
that under the present law permanent
good roads cannot be obtained. The
demand, therefore Is for change In
the law. new law Is wanted that
will give permanent good roads, and
that too, without unnecessary delay.
But any road system that will bring
about these results must cost money,
and If results are not to be delayed 1t
will cost big money, not big, however,
in comparison with the results to be
obtained. Upon the most reliable in
formation obtainable permanent good
roads cannot be built at a cost Of less
than from $1,000 to $4,000 per mile.
It Is estimated that there are in York
county about 1000 miles Of public
roads, but 1 take it that the permanent
Improvement Of say $50 to 300 miles
Of the principal highways, so laid out
as to extend equitably through every
township, would satisfy the present de-
mands of the people Of this county.
To do this in a proper way will cost
say 100000. 1 take it that the people
are willing to pay an annual property
tax of two mills to bring about such a
result, and under the plan which I
wish to suggest, it can be accomplish
ed under an annual levy Of two mills.
Let the county Of York issue bonds
in the sum Of 100000 or more, bear
ing interest at four per cent, payable
in forty years from date, with the
privilege reserved to the county OF
retiring them at any time after, say,
ten years. Let these 100000 worth Of
bonds then be distributed among the
different townships in proportion to
the assessed valuation Of property In
the several townships-the proceeds OF
the bonds so apportioned to said town
ships to be expended In that township,
under the direction Of a board COM
posed Of township commissioner, Sc
lected by such township, and the
county board of commissioners and
the county road engineer. Let the
money be deposited in the hands
of the county treasurer, as the agent
of the several townships, and be dis
tributed by him upon the warrants
issued by the township commissioner,
countersigned and approved by the
80 ooin
BY this plan, these permanent good
roads can be obtained now, and be
enjoyed by the present, as we'll as by
future generations, and under this
plan they would be paid fol in part by
the future as we'll as by the present
generation. The roads built being
permanent, It Is nothing more than
right that the future generations should
be required to contribute towards their
establishment and maintenance.
Under the provisions Of the Saye
law, by which a county engineer has
already been employed to do the nee
essary engineering work, the greater
part Of the surveys, etc., Of the prfn-
cipal roads in the county will be fin-
ished by July 1, 1909, so the prelimi-
nary engineering work for this plan
Is already provided for, and this per-
manent work could be commenced In
each township as soon as the 100000
worth Of bonds shall be issued, for 1t
is not likely that there will be any diff
a dfcnocinp Of A mar
cent county bonds at par or above. All
permanent work should be done by
contract, which contracts should be
let by the township commissioner,
county commissioners and county en-
gineer, acting together as board.
But under the provisions Of the con-
stitution of this state. such bonds
cannot be issued until the question OF
their issue has been submitted to the
vote Of the people of York county, up
on a petition for such an election sign
ed by a majority Of the free-holders OF
York county, and unless 1t Is further
approved by majority Of the qualified
electors voting on the question. You
see that it is a plan that Is necessary
to be approved by a majority Of the
freeholders as well as by a majority Of
the electors. There can be no harm
therefore, in passing an act submit
ting the question to the people.
This act would leave the money rails
ed from the communication tax, togeth-
er with the labor furnished by those
liable to road duty, to be applied to-
wards the keeping up Of the other
roads in each township not being per-
manently improved. For under the
proposed plan, where each township
would have it's own road commissioner,
think that those liable to road duty,
should have the privilege Of electing
to either pay the communication tax or
else to work the required number OF
days on the road, as 1 believe this old
plan would work satisfactorily under
township system, since the township
commissioner could give closer atten-
ton and supervision than could be CIV
en- under the old system Of general su-
perVlSlOn Dy the county DOdTu Ol COIH-
missioners.
AS to the county chaingang: l am
in favor of it's being used exclusively
in the construction of permanent high
ways, in the county under the super
vision and direction of the county board
of commissioners by being hired to
the road contractors ip/that township
of the county making the best offer
therefor.
OF course, l cannot attempt here to
give more than a general outline Of
the plan proposed. The details direct
ing how it shall be carried out Of
course would have to be carefully and
clearly worked out in the act passed by
the legislature and the people Of York
county at the election upon the ques-
ton of the issuing of the proposed
bonds, would have the opportunity to
approve or reject the measure as a
whole.
After we have built this $50 or 300
miles of permanent roads, we Will have