Graham guardian., 1909-05-28
MAY %, 1909.
CONSOLIDATION

III Tile last HulilucI VI 1SoiSS
Crosby's Paper, Mr.. Crosby, of Lay.
ton and Thatcher, publishes an edi.
torial on the consolidation of the
towns of Layton and Stafford, and
of school districts Nos. l and ID.
While we do not generally take
much notice of the efforts of out.
siders to control our local affairs,
the editorial in question presents
some statements that are not borne
out by the facts, and we Ieel it our
duty in 5eiialt of the Stafford Town
Council and the Stafford School
Board to correct the same.
A petition was presented to the
Town Council asking for consolida-
ton of the two towns. This petition
was signed by thirteen Layton peo-
pie, and a number of Stafford people.
The Council turned it down on the
grounds that it did not express the
wishes of the Layton people.
Mr.. Crosby tries to show that our
road taxes are paid in a considerable
measure by business men who live
in Layton. A careful poll shows
three merchants, paying a total
license tax of $4,000 per year, who
live in Layton. Our roads are kept
up by the license tax the business
men of Stafford pay. Layton's roads,
on the other hand, are kept up by
the County taxes, of which Stafford
citizens pay their proportionate
share. In other words, Stafford peo-
pie pay more now to keep up Lay
ton roads than do the Layton peo-
pie themselves. Should the two
towns consolidate, it would be nee
essary to levy property tax to
meet town expenses. This the peo-
pie of Layton would not accept. If
they will do so, and will show by
petition that a majority of their
people want consolidation, they will
meet no opposition from the people
of Stafford.
AS to the proposition for consoli-
dation of school districts, the facts
are these:
Layton, number of years ago,
cut itself off from Stafford to have
school of its own. Since that time the
opportunity has been offered again
and again for consolidation. At no
time would the Layton Board or the
Layton people agree to it. Lately,
Mr.. Crosby succeeded in breaking
into the Layton School Board. Not
having been a resident of the COM
munity sufficient length of time to
familiarize himself with the con-
ditions here, he feels it his duty to
ignore old policies and old condi-
tions. and lead his people in the way
they should go. And so. when the
Stafford School Board called and car
ried an election for the purpose of
supplying the room necessary for the
schools of the district. Mr.. Crosby
decided that It was time for him to
interfere in the matter.
His proposition TO the Stafford
Board was this:
Abandon the special tax, and vote
upon consolidation in the two dis
tricts. Then, If it carried, let SAT-
ford without Layton's help, vote
q special tax sufficient 10 pay off its !
bond. Then tho combined district
could issue new bonds and build a
new school house near the Olney
and the districts could
abandon their old buildings, and
sell the same. or the old Stafford
building could be used as high
school. ... -.
To this plan the Stafford Board |
offered the following objections:
First-There would be no cer-
tainty that, after we had abandoned |
our special tax proceedings, either
Layton r Stafford would agree ;tof