The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-05-06
THE ROAD MEETING
Convincing Address Of Senator Las.
sitter at SpOtsyIyania.
AUDIENCE GREATLY INTERESTED

pui X ttte presiu"hi virginia food Roads
Association, addressed "a large aud en-
thusiastlc audience OF leading Spotsyl-
vania citizens at thecOurt-hOuss oa Mon.
day. The day was a nice one and the
people showed their interest by filling the
eOurthouse TO hear the speaker. sena-
tor Lassiter IL an authority on the road
question, and his speech Monday urging
the people OF spOtsylvania To vote in
iaNOr oil the bond ISSUE ON Nav 18th
was clear. logical and convincing The
sentiment OF those present lefo-e the
meeting Wa IN iAvrr If the Issue. bot at
the cOOclusi IA If SENATOR Las-it.f :
speech II i probable that nearl, every
man at the court IA Jusa had become a
good roads advocntr. During the
speech. wh"n the p'assr WA urging his
hearers 10 b e nm. uIsint,-t= 81 the : ate
AssOci6tiOu bv paw uu. dp'iar. u gen
tlemsn Ia the audience called out: -
fused an hour since 10 in. but am
ready now aud here Is my dollar A
large number follow ed cult at the conelu-
sion oil the speaking, aud local associ-
alton was formed at the suggestion ~
Senator Lassiter. known a. the Spotsyl-
yania Good Roads Association Vice
President l.. BiscOe named the follow
Ing executive committee: ThOs r Nor
ri-On. &. l. Rhosdes, Willard McWhirt
Capt NJ. X. Rowe, l. r Colbert. r G.
Biaydss, NJ. f. Waite. W g Dilla-d. G
Harris, T. V. Graves. G. W Perry. G W.
Jones, DIR. J. ID Pulnam, Z Powell
\ l. Mills, A. W. Wiggles +. l..
Fhppo, {. Pul'am. T. ! Coleman.
All II them, - far as known. accepted.
The meeting WAS called to order sbout
IL O'Clock, aud the speaker introduced
b. Mr.. l. 81. Smith. chairman OF the
i Ia 81 M 4
Interest Ia the cause Of gu 81 roads and
OF the beginning ut the work IN this
STATE, Senator Lassiter referred to the
bret state aid bin passed by the General
Assembly ~ 1906. by which convict
labor was provided to IA limited extent
de also referred 20 the Increase In State
aid provided by the last General Assem-
bly,. making nearly 100000 available
In addition to convict labor.
This State aid appropriation, IN his
opinion, would oe made by each succeed.
ing General Assembly. and could b. used
TO help pay interest ana sinking fund on
road bonds. He spoke OF the tremen-
doue waste each year. saying that the
State had wasted enough on dirt roads
aud pine poles TO have Mscsdsmiz d
every mile Oi TO td in the State. Coming
To discussion OF the proposed bond IL.
sus Itself, he told how his county. Din-
witdie, had two years ago been over.
whelmingly opposed to such an issue
how a few miles Of permanent gravel
road had been built, and how at the cleo
ton month since the county had voted
five TO one In favor OF issuing 41OO. 600
OF bonds. These bonds, he said. were 1,
sued at 4 per cent interest and were
sold last week at a premium. He said
Spotsylvanis shonld have gravel roads
and showed that these could be built
and were being built In many counties Of
the State at 81 500 per mile, 90 that TO
build the % miles of proposed permanent
road In CORTLAND district II would only
be necessary TO actually issue IN that dis
triet $34, 500 oil the proposed 800. 900.
aud the other 32o, 500 10 bonds could be
held back Tor further permanent build.
Ing, provided that built proved satisiac-
| tory.
In Chancellor, the proposed 20 miles 10
be built would cost about $50 600. aud
the other $4,000 could likewise he held
back. he stated that gravel roads were
less costly than rock roads and lees eI.
pensive to maintain, but that they could
at any time be converted into rock roads
at very small cost. he said that Spot.
sylvsnia bonds could be issued at * psr
cent, as was the case 10 Dlnwiddie
| Senator Lassiter then sho wed that II
CORTLAND and Chancellor voted to issue
the bonds that taxpayers in Livingston
aud Berkeley could never be liable for
one cent OF same and could never be
taxed 10 pay them. The law expressly
1 provides. said the Senator, that the dis
trict for which the bonds are issued shall
pay same, and that the entire proceeds
shall be spent on the roads OF that dis
1 fTfPf Thu only h. 10,
they are county bonds lie because there Il
no district organization which can issus
bonds, the county being the unit OF gov
eminent. He expressed great surpriss
that voters living 10 Berkeley and Liv
tngston should be opposed to Chancellor
and CORTLAND building good roads al
| their own expense, when the people O
the fret two districts would be able tC
travel over them without paying q cent
Taking up the argument advanced by
some Berkeley people TO the effect that 4
Courtlsnd and Chancellor Issued bonds
their people would be compelled TO dc
likewise. senator Lsssiter showed that
Berkeley could never be forced into issu.
Ing bonds unless a majority OF the voter
In that district should vote In favor oI
such an Issue. as the law provides that
before bonds can be issued for any dis.
/ WV q mo- OElNl VI Il II us MI l. III
we'll as IA me- jOrity OF those In the entire
county, must vote for the issue
| Senator Lsssiter then gave some 6g
ures. Suppose $4,000 OF bonds are H.
sued fn Courtlsnd. The interest and
sinking fund at 6 per cent would be
~ 400 per year.
| The taxable values 10 CORTLAND OF rea
and personal property. which IL very
low, amounts To $657 sol. The road
tar IL now 40 cents, 50 that in Court
land this will raise 81, $50 per year. The
State gives Spotsylvanie about 81 200
OF this $500 should go to CORTLAND
which added to the g., $40 makes O rev.
enue Of ~, $50 per year This sum will
therefore, overpay the interest and sink
ing fund on $40,0 of bonds by $3.50
so that 1t will be seen that Courtland
can have % miles OF permanent road
without increasing the present tax rat
| one cent.
| Suppose Chancellor issues sac, 900 fol
20 miles. The interest and sinking fund
at g per cent would be 81 500. Her tax
able values amount to $40, 925. Tn.
road fund amounts to $1,763, and $500
from the State, making 81, 063, or $26s
more than enough to pay interest anC
sinking fund without increasing taxeI
one cent IL more money is needed fol
any purpose 10 cent raise in Courtlant
will yield $657. and in Chancellor $40
making more than enough for all pur
poses.
With these figures before them anC
with the tremendous increase In valuei
which always follow the building OF gooC
roads, Senator Lassiter said every vote
In the county should cast his ballot To-
the bond issue on May 18th. II IL wa
voted down the county would receive 4
black eye and e bad advertisement.