Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1912-04-18
AClRD FROM Y. ?. RlSHGP.


As there has been some cri,i-
cism OF my position with refer
ence - the bond issue, as a
means 70 procure permanent high
ways, | want 10 state that it IS up
u you whether you have bonds
or not. AS for myself, have in
dependent opinions OF my own
and am going 70 vote for bonds
If every man in the Beat votes
against the issue. ! am thorough
ly convinced that this is the on y
way that we can solve the prot
lem economically and perman-
entity.
may be wrong in my position
and il is not my purpose 70 criti-
else or cOudemn those OF my
friends who differ with me and
my critics must not expect me to
sacrifice my individual convic-
tons on the issue Simply for the
reason that am an office holder.
This view is entirely wrong for
know how to plow.
Il il conceded by every one
Competent t. make observations
that the contract system is a fail
ure and to continue under il
means a waste Of both time and
money and it means TO delay pro
gross and development in this
county for wears. We have ex-
pended in Beat | { = the past four
years IN thu nei-lborhoOt Of
$4,000 or 5000 per year and
sections Of r)lds leading 10 Ok
lord have been abandoned be
cause ri the impossible condition
these conditions are not the rs-
suit Of neglect altogether, for we
have expended only receltly SIS
on three SAM hills within thr -
miles III oxford and the recent
rains have washed them into bad
shape. We have one stretch OF
road two miles South OF Oxford
ua the Taylor road which has
been abandoned because Of ditch
81 irom > % > feet deep directly
across the ro9d and We estimate
that il will take $3.50 10 put tn
hiil in shape. am of toe opin-
ion that 1t would take the entire
road tax of the county to put the
roads OF Beat / in good shape.
The soil conditions in Bea. |
are very hard 70 mai1tain be-
cause OF the sand hills and cuts
and for the fles that most of the
travel in tas county il over tn,
roads of Beat. The road tax OF
the Beat j. insufic .utto maintain
the roads in good condition. eten
though the entire amount b. re-
served for the Bet. alone.
Now the bond issue is a bust
ness psobl-m and as such is due
a calm ald digntiel discussion.
There is no excuse u get fright
ened. no inducemens to grow in.
uatical, simply look n the merits
or dement's of the issus as they
may be. Bond issles have never
increased the population Of ceme
tevies or depopuia.eI districts. or
the contrary tie StIGe, counties
and districts that have issued
bonds for improved highways
nave 100 per cent better roads
tlan We have a less cost aud en-
Joy n lower tax rate.
Now we have about 100 miles
Of roads in Beat / and the bond
issue IS for the purpose ofinproy
lar the roads in this Beat. Ny
friend John Pdrvts (and he is my
friend) issues the statement tia
the bond issue is for the improve
ment OF only two roads. We az,
AZ a loss to understand the au.
thority fer this Statement. The
Board has not authorized such.
the advocates of the bond meas
ure state that the issue is for the
permanent improvement of the
highways of the Beat and not fol-
any one or particJsa. road a,
might be selected. | fail to CON-
prehend the motives that promn'
John Pnrvis to oppose the bond
issue. 1t cannot be on tins
igrounds OF taxation, as he only
pays Il cents total road tax. He
IS exempt from the Communication
tax on the ground that he is q
sufferer from magisterial rheuma
tism. | have often heard the state
aent that where there is smoke
there Is fire, bat il John doa't
, make the biggest smoke with less
IRE than anyone / ever saw then
| | give it up.
believe that $3.50 per mile will
put the roads Of Beat | in first
class shape O equivalent to SD.
gO then take an equal amount
ana put in permanent culverts,
bridges, levees. cut down and
grade the hills and we will have
the total OF . ,000. The interest
on this amount will be So, 500 pc,
}. year ami the one mill tax will
meet this. then reduce the road
tax TO Sand you will have S2,4O(
for repairs, or i total of s., COX
for roads under the bond issue
against the $4,000 We now pay.
We propose to safeguard the
funds Of this bond issue by plac-
ing the road work under the su-
pervision OF the government eng
neers, we are not going to dumr
1t in a hole. Every dollar will be-
spent at home, every idle team
and man a find emnlovuant -,