The Marshall republican., 1911-08-24
HOW TO OBTAIN
GOOD HIGHWAYS
Bond Issue F'2n For Counties
a Remedy Fer resent Evils.
QUICKER and BETTER ROADS.

lime Being, but the Issuing Of
Bonds Will Insure Good Thorough.
fares For Generations to Come.
Many Southern Counties Using Plan.
A study Of the problems connected
with the development Of our nation
has shown that we take first rank IN
civil government. manufactures. com
merce aud IN the worlds a1fulrs gen
orally. yet improved public rond con
struction. the one phase OF Dur Ameri-
can life upon which depend more
thnn any other the certain prosperity
and social comfort Of a 'argc majority
VI our citizens. has been neglected to
y degree that Ia almost beyond the
power OF conception. says DIR. j. Ii.
Pratt. state gcologist Of North Caro-
lima.
The old method Of obtaining ven
for the construction Of roads was by
levying n labor Tux. which required
all ablebotled male residents OF n
state between certain agcs to work on
the public highways within their re-
spective townships for n certain mum.
her of days per annum. but In lieu OF
this labor they could puy n 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 VI improved roads
constructed. and IL Is practically i'm
possible to construct a system OF good
roads In this way. II Il docs not give
good improved roads how can they be
obtained?
Public roads are public necessities.
aud the benefits to DO 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 nre common
property OF all the Deoplc. and all the
people have the right and privilege
TO use them. Therefore why should
not all the people bear some Of the
cxpensef
To carry ont this work TO the quick.
est and 10 the best advantage the
county should issue bonds In order 60
secure the necessary funds.
IL Il a fair and equitable Arrangement
that future generations should pay for
a portion OF the improvements OF our
public ronds, ns they derive ns great a
benefit as the present generation. Too
many have an Idea that 10 bond their
county will mean a very large increase
In their taxes without their deriving
any material benefits from their OK
penditures. not realizing that the In.
crease In tho 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 II to pay
the bonds without unnecessary incon.
veuience.
They obviatc the necessity for a high
road tax while accomplishing the re-
suits for which such q tax would be.
levied.
Let US consider briefly what a 500,
600 bond issue would cost n county:
In the nrst place. l believe the bonds
could be sold as bearing ~ per cent In
terest. This will mean that the Interest,
on the Issue OF 100000 viii DO 1850 per-
annum. II Will also be necessary to put
by a sinking fund 10 take care of these
bonds on maturity. Such q sum as 10 neo-
essary can be put by each year at 8 per
cent interest and at the end OF forty years
VIII cover tho bond Issue. The amour,
nat II viii BIO necessary TO put aside eauh
year for this purpose will be ss3s. Thb
makes q total Of S.xs tha . county VIII
have TO raise each year TO take care q
this bond Issue. This amount viii not ~
IN much as II would be necessary 10 raiss
by n high tax. Is cents TO % cents. which
some counties have levied In providins
The money for road construction. Sup
pose the assessed property valuation II
snssSN0s q IA VI Ohiy ~ GENTS on tIC
800 would yield $4,000 annually, which
would be sufficient to pay the interest on
the bonds. create n sinking fund and
leave enough money. 10000. for tho main.
tenance Of the improved road and to keen
In repair the roads In tho county that are
not being permanently improved.
This twenty cent Tux IL a small tar
for good roads work and II this tax
was levied without bond issue II would
usually all be spent In maintenance
Of the reads without permanently Inn
proving any OF them.
If a county or a township decides TO
try and raise the necessary revenue,
for good roads construction by a direct
tax on the 800 worth OF property II
would require an exceedingly high tax
to accomplish the desired result. NM
there was situated In the county N
large city whose accumulated wealth
could be taxed for good road work In