Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-08-31


has shown that we take first rank in
civil government. manufactures. com
merce and in the worlds affairs gen
orally. yet improved public road con
struction. the one phase Of our Ameri-
can life upon which depend more
than any other the certain prosperity
and social comfort of large majority
Of our citizens, has been neglected to
degree that is almost beyond the
power of conception. says DR.. j. II.
Pratt. state geologist of North Caro-
lima.
The old method Of obtaining revenue
for the construction Of roads was by
! levying labor tax, which required
all ablebodied male residents of q
state between certain ages to work on
the public highways within their re-
spective townships for q certain mum
Der of days per annum. but in lieu of
this labor they could pay certain
amount for each day that they were
required to work. While thousands
Of miles of public roads have been
built by this means. there are but
few miles Of graded or improved roads
constructed. and it is practically i'm
possible to construct system of good
roads in this way. II it does not give
good improved roads how can they be
obtained?
| Public roads are public necessities.
and the benefits to be derived from
their construction In the various cOun-
ties composing the state are not only
of great value to each county. but also
to the state. Public roads are ready to
serve all classes. they are common
property of all the people. and all the
people have the right and privilege
to use them. Therefore why should
not all the people bear some OF the
expense?
TO carry out this work to the quick
est and to the best advantage the
county should issue bonds in order to
secure the necessary funds.
1t is a fair and equitable arrangement
that future generations should pay for
portion of the Improvements Of our
public roads. as they derive as great a
benefit as the present generation. Too
many have an idea that to bond their
county will mean a very large increase
in their taxes without their deriving
any material benefits from their ex
penditures. not realizing that the in
crease in the value Of property and the
decrease in the cost of the maintenance
of the roads and the wear and tear
on horses, wagons and harness is SO
much money saved,
The issuing Of bonds makes avail
able funds in sufficient quantity to
render possible the accomplishment Of
definite and desirable results.
They give almost Immediately the
benefit Of good roads, while the pay
ment for them is deferred for many
years until the county has progressed
in material wealth to enable it to pay
the bonds without unnecessary incon
venience.
They obviate the necessity for high
road tax while accomplishing the re
suits for which such a tax would be
, levied
Let us consider briefly what 500.
600 bond issue would cost county:
In the first place. l believe the bonds
could be sold as bearing AZ per cent in
terest This will mean that the interest
on the issue of 100000 will be $500 per
annum 1t will also be necessary to put
by sinking fund to take care of these
bonds on maturity. Such a sum as is nee
no hy n & "a
cent interest and at the end of forty years
will cover the bond issue The amount
! that 1t will be necessary to put aside each
year for this purpose will be 1888. This
makes a total of s. 433 that n county Will
have to raise each year to take care of
this bond issue. This amount VIII not be
as much as it would be necessary to raise
by a high tax. s. cents to so cents. which
some counties have levied in providing
/ the money for road construction. Sup
pose the assessed property valuation Is
$SOOO,0O0 tax of only 20 cents on the
800 would yield $4,000 annually. which
would be sufficient to pay the interest on
the bonds create a sinking fund and
leave enough money. s10.500, for the main
tenance of the improved road and to keep
in repair the roads in the county that are
not being permanently improved
! This twenty cent tax is small tax
/ IOT EOOu TOuuS NOTh anu IL tulS tdA
was levied without bond issue it would
usually all be spent in maintenance
Of the roads without permanently i'm
proving any of them
If county or township decides to
~ and raise the necessary revenue
for good roads construction by direct
tax on the 500 worth of property 1t
would require an exceedingly high tax
to accomplish the desired result. unless
there was situated in the county a
large city whose accumulated wealth
could be taxed for good road work in
the county. Counties situated in this
way could probably raise revenue
sufficient to construct improved roads
throughout the county with tax not
running over 80 cents on the 500
worth of property The counties. how
ever, without large cities or towns
should issue bonds for ,oo1 roads con.
struction.