The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1913-02-22
what fixes it's value in spite of all
the hot air to the contrary.
Very truly yours,
MATT GILMORE.
In REPLY.

The True Democrat most assured
ly does not regard one who disa-
grees with it as an enemy, though
naturally feeling a partially for the
booster when compared with the
kIocker.
Mir. Gilmore's statement that he
would not alter his past course if
he could, brands him as being i'll
deed a remarkable man, or like one
OF whom a wise man has said: "The
man who looks back on his past life
and says, I have nothing to regret
has lived in vain. The life without
regret is the life without gain. Re-
gret is but the light of fuller wis
dom from our past, illuminating our
failure" However there was no in
tention of muddying the waters, but
rather of clarifying the argument by
reference to Mr. Gilmore's duty to
his fellow-citizens in the premises.
The statement that road building
should be completed before bridge
building is begun is like putting the
cart before the horse, for every
one knows that to get the maximum
of efficiency from good roads all
streams should be bridged. The road
system, under Mr.. Gilmore's plan,
would be only as strong as it's weak
est link, OR rather would be bound by
chain of weak links as represented
by every branch, bayou or creek
that crosses that road system. If it
should be proven impossible to build
roads and bridges simultaneously,
then by all means let the bridges
come first
The comparison of the amount of
taxes which Mr.. Gilmore paid in four
different years is no proof that his
taxes are excessive. The only thing
it shows is that in 1908, under the
Blanchard plan, more equal form
Of assessment was employed than
had been in vogue previously, and
Mr.. Gilmore, in common with many
others, was made to pay more near
ly his just proportion of the expense
of the government. Mr.. Gilmore's as
sessment is not high and the taxes
he pays are very low on the amount
Of property he owns.
We fail to understand the logic of
some of Mr.. Gilmores conclusions.
If ten separate wards could build
good roads and pay cash for same,
why could not ten wards acting as
unit do the same thing? The re-
cent fiasco in the second ward is not
very encouraging towards a belief
that immediate results would follow
any attempt to create road districts.
The men in the second ward are
among the most industrious and pro-
gressive in the parish They were in
a majority as polls. Unless it was
certain that a like majority existed
in the other districts proposed, it
would be useless to attempt their
creation.
Mr.. Gilmore's statement that good
roads have no bearing on the price
of land is, of course, erroneous; ev-
cry one knows that a piece of prop
erty situated on good road VIII ere
trips to market may be made 965
days in the year is worth more than
another piece just as fertile but To-
Gated on Indifferent roads and cut
off by natural barriers, such as creeks.
But most of his arguments are en-
tirely beside the question, as they
relate to the theory of extra taxa
ton, when the beauty of the plan
suggested by Mr.. Matthews in his
talk before the police jury was that
it was shown how bridges could be