Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-03-10

Washington and Lee, will do as much
as much as any other single agency to
wipe it away entirely so far as it is a
power for evil.
SOME ROAD BOND OBJECTIONS
ANS NERED
Among the communications printed
in the DISPATCH AND NEWS recent
ly were two from opponents of the
proposed bond issue for the purpose of
building system of good roads
throughout Augusta county. s'Tax-
payer" the writer of one Of these,
suggests that the movement is in the
interest of the capitalists who may
want to secure the bonds. The burden
of his complaint is that the interest en-
the entire issue of $1,000 would be-
gin at once, although it would be sew
eral years before the roads could be
completed. Certainly he must give
Augustus excellent Board of Super
visors credit for better judgement than
that. The bonds would be sold as
needed, probably in $4,000 or 500, 200
lots and interest would begin on these
lots only as issued. He also says that
an increase of 10 cents in the tax levy
with the present road fund would
build fifteen miles of new road a year.
If that could be done, which is ex-
tremely doubtful, it would take TWEEN
ty years to complete the system, tenta-
lively suggested by Captain Ker, and
it would mean an increase in the levy
of the 10 cents on each 500 of proper
ty. Under Captain Ker's plan the en-
tire system could be built in one quar-
ter of the time with no increase what
ever in the tax rate, the average
amount spent for roads in the last few
years with the States aid being suffi-
Gent to provide for sinking fund for
the retirement of bonds, all interest
charges, and for the maintenance of
the roads. Then the people would
have system of good roads and would
reap the benefit from them while pay
ing for them. In other words all the
county will have to do will be to keep
on appropriating what it is now spend
ing on the roads, the people can enjoy
the roads now, or in very short time,
and at the end of thirty-three years all
bills for them will have been paid, the
people will have the roads without
having felt their cost, and will still
have them. But for the bond issue
plan the country would not now be
covered with a network of railroads,
giving rapid and cheap access to ali
markets of the land. All, or nearly
all of them were built with borrowed
money, particularly those built in the
last twenty-five years.
Mr.. Reed, in his communication OBJ
posing the road bonds, is not nearly so
temperate as Taxpayer" He as
sumes that the people of Staunton are
behind the proposition and the roads
will be for Staunton's benefit, losing
sight apparently, of the fact that
Staunton is the market for Augusta
county to which the farmers haul the
produce they have to sell, and that
anything that facilitates this move
ment to market is good thing for the
farmer. Staunton will benefit only
incidentally by a system of good roads
through the county. Those VINO will
reap the greatest benefit will be the
farmers, who will save in time, Labor
and horsefesh as well as by having
the value of their farms increased.
He makes the point that the bond is
sue would be putting mortgage of
two dollars on every acre of land in
the county. In this he is mistaken,
but even if it were SO, the increased
value of the lands, because of the good
roads would easily be ten times that
amount. He admits that there would
probably be no graft in the road build
ing under the bond issue, but asserts
that there would be a waste of thirty
five per cent. through ignorance and
incompetency. Again he is mistaken.
If there should be any waste at all, it
would be infnitesmal. The character
Of the Board of Supervisors is, we
think, sufficient answer is such a
statement.
Mr.. Reed says that the people who
are advocating this ssextravagancen
are not asking the State to enter into
it. Whether it be an extravaganza is
a matter OF opinion, yet the State en-
tered into it without being asked by
the people who are advocating the
bond issue. Under the State road law,
generally conceded to be one of the
wisest measures ever enacted at Rich
mond, Augusta would be entitled to
receive from the State sum of money
every year, Until the total amount re-
ceived from the State amounted to so
percent of the amount the county ex
ponds. This sum would be approx
mately $1,000 year.
Mr.. P. st. Julian Wilson, State road
com missioner, in discussing the point,
in letter to Captain Ker, writes:
III am of the opinion that if your