The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-05-25

va. increased from 1890 to 1900 only
I1,ls2. or AZ per cent. while from
1900 to 1910 it Increased 81 per cent.
This indicated clearly that the coun-
ty Is progressing and also that a
greater rate Of progress was main
tained throughout the latter period
than the former. It is noteworthy
that during this latter period, in the
year 1908, bonds were Issued and IS
miles Of improved roads constructed
Herewith. While 1t may not be fair
to charge up the Increased population
to the fact that these bonds were Is
sued and these roads improved, yet
1t would not be unfair to claim mu-
tuality Of cause and effect between
these two facts.
The Improvement of the roads is a
public function and 1nures to the
benefit of all the citizens of the coun-
ty, both rural and urban. There
fore, the cost of such improvements
should be shared by all citizens. If
the funds for improving roads are
raised by direct tax, the levy neces-
sary does not operate against proper
ty within incorporated towns and
cities caring for their own streets,
and consequently the entire burden
under direct tax system would have
to be borne by the rural population.
Whereas, under bond issue, the low
provides for the tax necessary for
raising interest and sinking fund
shall operate against all property in.
the county alike From the stand
point of the farmer, therefore, 1t Is
decidedly to his advantage to adopt
the issuance of bonds for this pur-
pose, rather than to levy a direct tax.
Furthermore, when county is
sues bonds 1t merely borrows that
much money and invests 1t in the
Improvement of its roads. Borrow
ing money 10 build good roads is like
buying a house, farm. or a business
on credit You have it and you re-
celve the benefits from It while you
are paying for 1t. For instance, If
Harrison county should issue $1,000
900 of thirty year bonds, the pro-
ceeds should be invested in improved
highways within probably two years
time, and the citizens OF the county
would get the benefit of the roads
for great many years while they
were paying for the bonds. Further
more, by issuing this amount of
bonds the county will be able 10
build its roads at a cheaper cost per
unit, because 1T is always cheaper to
buy or to build by the wholesale
than by the retail. If Instead of
building five miles of road with the
small amount which would be avail
able from a direct tax, 100 miles
were built by means Of a bond issue,
the cost of the larger undertaking
would be correspondingly cheaper.
The reason for this is that no re-
liable contractor will do the smaller
Jobs, because he cannot afford to buy
crushing plants. steam rollers and
other necessary machinery and equip
ment for building stone roads un-
der such small contracts.
In this connection It is. well to
emphasize the importance of main
tanning the roads after they are built.
1t is useless to spend money to i'm
prove roads without at tie same time
formulating an efficient plan Of main
tenance, either 10y the patrol or other
equally good system. This can not
be to strongly emphasized, and we
should, therefore, urge that immedi- I,
ate steps be taken to provide for the
maintenance OF the roads after they
are built.
During 1910 there were issued So
osS,0oO worth OF bonds by various
counties in North Carolina for road
work, and during the year Of 1911,
there have been issued or contem
plated in that state bonds to the
amount of S4I6Os, 900. Various coun-
ties in the state of Alabama have al
ready voted, during 1911, 1890, 900
in bonds, and Jefferson county was to h
vote on an issue of LOCO, 900, the
results of which election are not
known. Various counties OF Texas
have voted to date this year $780,
900 in bonds; while during 1910. diff
ferent counties of Virginia voted ST. 2
$4,000, and up to the present date,
this year. &1,N25. 900 have been voted. :
The substantial amount OF these bond
Issues by some counties OF Virginia is
illustrated by the fact that Wise
county voted 100000. Lee county i:
SS4G,OOO. and in 1911 Tazawell =.
county has voted $685., 900. In 1906 {
the legislature OF New York author .