The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-29

hardship for the counties In the val.
| ley to pay their road taxes in cash
yet the question might be different In
the western part where money is less
abundant and the problem of good
roads not SO prominently in the fore
ground. But If the counties were giver
the power to decide, it would be only a
question of time when their representa-
tives and progressive members would
sweep statute labor into the scrap
heap.
Constitution Bars Way.
have already suggested that even
If the people of North Dakota wanted
state aid in road building, the consti-
tuition prohibits such course. 1t there
fore follows that the counties for some
time to come must bear the financial
burden of whatever road construction
or improvement they may desire tc
make. Our laws at present provide
that the county road fund shall be
created by the levy of a tax of not
less than one mill and in the townships
any tax levied for road purposes may
not exceed 81 on 800 of valuation oil
property. The counties, and in many
ScSoCC LALC W" AlSA1AkS " AL NC u41dDlS u
levy large tax for road purposes un-
der the laws existing at the present
time and to accumulate any consider
able fund for use in improving their
public highways. In view of the many
burdens, ordinary and extraordinary
the townships have to bear, it will, in
many cases, be impossible to levy a
tax fund to the full extent allowed by
the law. From this it appears that the
county desiring to permanently i'm
prove a highway or highways within
its limits could not do so, or at least
would be very seriously handicapped
under the present arrangement. What
has been the remedy sought in other
states?
In practically every state where per-
manent road improvement has been
undertaken to any extent this difficulty
has been met by giving the counties,
and even in some cases like Illinois,
for example, the township, the power
to issue bonds for this purpose.
In North Dakota your counties may
issue bonds for the following purposes:
In payment of outstanding indebted
ness, of disputed claims against the
county, of judgments and for the erec-
ton OF county buildings, and in some
cases for the building of bridges. 1t
seems that county under the law as
it stands is not permitted to issue
bonds for road construction. That this
situation has been deemed a serious
obstacle in older states is clear from
the fact that almost universally the
counties have been given this power.
With proper safeguards it carries out
the wholesome principle of encourag-
ing the county to help itself and the
locality to decide for itself upon mat
tiers of it's own concern. In most states
where counties are permitted to issue
bonds the first step is taken only on
the initiative either of several free
holders or of voters residing within
the county, and in all cases a majority
of three fifths or even two thirds vote
of all the electors voting upon the
proposition is required before the bonds
are issued. The bonds are made pay
able in the future and at stated inter-
walls of time so that the burden does
not in any one year bear so heavily
upon the taxpayer. But the issuing of
bonds and the obtaining OF the funds
promptly enables the county to enjoy
the use of the improved highway at
once, whereas 1t would have to wait
for years to accumulate the fund by
an ordinary levy
Only an Outline.
I have now laid before you In general
outline the plan other states have found
it necessary to follow in permanently
improving their wagon roads. There
are many details to be attended to
which If dwelt upon at this time would
expand my remarks beyond all reason
able proportions. Moreover. local con-
ditions, perhaps best known to the
legislator, must be consulted. Without
presumings to suggest what course OF
action this body should take, 1t appears
to me that one great service could be
rendered the state by a codification of
It's highway laws and an elimination
therefrom of conflicting or obsolete
provisions. But whatever you may de-
eide to do, the field of service before
you Is large from which a rich harvest
OF achievement may be reaped to the
great and lasting benefit Of this COM