The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-03
CONGRATULATIONS.

The county commissioners are to be
congratulated for deciding to submit
the question Of good roads bond is
sue to the taxpayers. At a special cleo
tion the qualified taxpayers will vote
whether the county shall issue $1.000,000
in bonds to construct permanent sys
tenn of highways, and they are to be
congratulated for having the opportun-
ity to determine a question of such
vital Importance to the county. The
commissioners came to the conclusion
that the constantly increasing senti-
ment in favor Of system Of hard-sur
faced arteries through the county war
ranted the cost of special election.
1t transpires that some opposition to
the election developed among the farm
ers who feared that the burden Of tax
alton would be too greatly augmented
by the $1,000,000 bond issue. This point
is one very properly to be considered
in the campaign for the bonds, but The
Tribune, which has advocated the issue
since 1t became apparent that public
sentiment was strongly in favor Of it,
believes that the fears and doubts OF
the protesting farmers will be trans
formed into enthusiasm as the cam
palgn progresses.
As The Tribune has pointed out in
sistently the expenditure is an in
vestment which is bound to pay a
handsome profit to the taxpayers of the
county and especially the taxpayers in
the agricultural districts. They will
reap rich rewards from the increased
transportation facilities which will per-
NIT them to market their products
more cheaply and, therefore, at great
er profit to themselves. The tax bur
den, of course, is to be spread over a |
long time and future generation will |
share in the burden. But when the |
good roads are considered in their true |
light as a highly profitable investment |
the incidental taxation should become
matter of minor significance, The |
Panama canal would never have been
constructed if the American people had
centered their thoughts unwaveripgly |
failed to take the larger view that
everybody in the country would be
richer for the canal.
The Tribune believes that perma-
nent system of hard-surfacod highways
through the county will add to the com
fort, convenience and wealth of the
taxpayers. 1t not only will promote
the welfare Of those already settled
here, but it will be an invitation 10
other settlers. who will increase the
wealth
But not the least OF the arguments
IN favor OF the issue is the fact that
Sl.000,000 of outside capital will be
brought in to set the unemployed at
work and augment the present prosper
lty. 1t is true, and gratifying truth
It is, that Salt Lake county is not
facing the dire problem of the uuem.
ployed which is causing so much anx-
iety on the Pacific coast and in many
other sections Of the country. Never
theless, the expenditure of the ST.
100000 will give every unemployed man
willing TO work a chance TO earn good
pay and to become an asset instead Of
remaining a tax upon the community,
Certainly no one can be the loser by
creating assets either present or future.
But however desirable the present in
crease in prosperity may be. ii is the
opinion of The Tribune that the ulti
mate prosperity as the result Of good
roads can scarcely be overestimated