Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-10-15
Has the County Court nisrepresented
the Financial Condition Of
Jefferson County ?
Continued from First Page

Continued from First Page
When our county voted the two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars bond issue, our
assessed value. real aud personal wss about
$1,000, 900. 1t is now SIC, 0O0. 600 and rapid
ly increasing.
The fathers in our constitution in their
wisdom considered per cent. OF our as
sssed value q conservative debt for us to
csrry--an$S00, 900 bond issue on SIC ,000, 900
assessment.
Our present bonded Indebtedness is only
$i72,600. And the present asked for bond
ISSUE $4,000. making $222.6 600, less we car
ried when our assessment was only little
over one-third what it is today, and con-
stantly increasing.
There is still another view to take of this
bridge proposition. The Jefferson county
citizens residing on the east side of the
Shenandoah river or on the west side there
of have right to demand . bridge across
the Shenandoah river wherever the river
crosses a regularly established public road
Whenever citizen of Jefferson county fol-
lows a regularly established road and finds
an impossible river spanning this road and
when the regularly established county
authorities have not made adequate ar
rangements to cross the same. the citizen
in our humble opinion. is entitled 10 remun-
Grafton for all damages that he suffers from
delay, and he can, in our opinion. by proper
legal methods. compel the county auihor-
ties to erect suitable bridges over all streams
crossing public reads when to do SO would
not cause the County Court to increase our
bonded indebtedness so as to exceed the
constitutional limit. The writer is not
versed in the intricacies of the law, and he
may be wrong in the above statement of
what the law is. but he is convinced that if
the above is not the law, from the stand.
point of a sound progressive public policy.
it should be the law.
But, entirely apart from the merits or de-
merits of this bridge bond issue, we would
like to inquire why the County Court of
Jefferson county, as Court, undertakes to
oppose the bond issue? As Court, it seems
to us that they should stand absolutely
neutral and hands off; if individually they
think the bond issue an inadvisable thing
then as individuals, they should oppose it
But as Court, they should be absolutely
silent on the subject; their duty is to carry
ont the will of the voters, and not to under
take to dictate to the voters of jefferson
county how to vote on this or any other
question. Again We ask, why this perni-
cious activity on the part of the County
Court? Public office is public trust, and
public officers should be the servants of the
people. aud not undertake to be their mas
tiers. The above facts taken from the re
cords of the County Court of Jefferson are
respectfully submitted to the voters of JEFF
ferson county for their consideration and all
we ask is square deal. Assessor Conra
says there are ] 400 of us instead of 200 a.
| said in my article addressed The Ladies,
The Clergy and the Voters of Jeffersoa
County. ! am talking facts not fancies
Now over is of the truly rural citizens If
Jefferson county have pledged themselves
through ny signed agreement with The
Comfy Court to build l-2 miles of roads
on the east side of the Shenar doall liver
which roads " N r. Roberts Gays will
cot from 5000 to 00oo for the public
benefit.
have an interest in 5000 sores of land
assessed at about 2 dollars per acre Bull;
this bridge and BIS 90 per acre would be
fair assessment. As have heretofore
stated the increased assessed value caused by
the building of this bridge will more tha,
take care of the cost and it will be benefit
20 all and burden on none.
II G. GETZENDANNER
One OF The Fourteen Hundred Eastsiders