The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-09-09

amounted to $3.50 per annum, ant
this gradually decreases from veal
to year as the principal is reduced
Let us assume that the tax of $3.50
will extend for twenty years, and
that $50 more is added for the en-.
HANGED value of the farm, which
would make $3.50 year, or total
of $1,150. Substracting this amount
from the $4,000, which represents
the enhanced value of the farm
there still remains a clear profit OF
$3.50. In other words, the good
road cost this farmer only about
$1,110, but the improvement of the
road added $4,000 to the value OF
his land, not to mention the other
advantages resulting from the i'm
provement At this same rate of
taxation it would take about $50
years to pay out in taxes as much
as the farm has increased in value.
Will any one say that it was not a
good business proposition for this
farmer to go in debt for good roads?
In Durham county, N. c., all the
main roads have been macadamized
to the county line, and, while the
soil is not as fertile as that of Ore
gon, the lands have increased lin
value since the Improvement was
made from $40 and 525 to $50 and
500 per acre. Lands lying on the
macadamized roads in that county
are worth 3 or 4 times as much
as those located on the earth roads.
Furthermore, the lands lying along
the good roads are being brought
under high state of cultivation, but
on the mud roads they are neglected
and untitled. Durham county built
it's roads from bond issue, $780,
000) and as in many other counties
the enhanced value and the increased
citizenship has been sufficient to pay
the interest on the bonds, and to Gre
ate the sinking fund with which to
liquidate the debt, without increasing
current taxation for tbs purpose. If
Union county had waited until it
could have paid for the good roads
out of the current revenues it would
not have had them for the use of the
present generation.
The plan which is being so ably
advocated by Judge Webster through
out this state, of having the Consti-
tuition of the state so amended as
to permit any county to borrow
money with which to improve its
roads is certainly worthy of the high
est commentator.
Union county, N. j., in 1898, spent
100000 in bonds for macadamized
roads This was one of the first
counties in the United States to
adopt such plan. The bond issue
was bitterly contested by many we'll
Intentional but misinformed citizens
The opponents of the measure claim
ed that the county would be ruined:
and that the farms would have to
be sold to pay taxes; that farmers
and real estate owners would bel
driven into bankruptcy; that the
whole project was unsound and
crazy. In spite of the bitter oppo-
sition the bond issue carried by a
small majority, with the result that
the roads we're built and the value
of the property was greatly en-
The increased value was
so great that the tax rates are less
today than in the adjoining counties,
where a system of good roads has
not been built.
AS the benefits resulting from a
system of good roads cover a long
period of time equity demands that
the rising generation should bear a
portion of the cost; and that the
people who will surely move in as
soon as good roads are built to paw
a portion of the cost.
Building roads on borrowed capital
insures immediate benefits, instead
Of by installments, as would be the
case under the pay as you go" plan
BY building the roads now it is pos
sible to anticipate by many years
he advantages resulting from cash
axes. 1t is like buying house, a
arm, or business on the INSTALL
nent plan; you have it and receive
ne benefits from it while you are
paying for it. By the building of a
system of roads now, under a bond
ssue, county can save money; be- +,
'ause this method results in cheaper I
ng the cost, and insures better meth /,
IDS of construction. II the improve
nents are undertaken on large Y
Gale the cost of the various units is I
decreased TT ipcfood 80 h,,;,ls~ - 4