Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-04-01
NO BONDS FOR DIXIE
HIGHWAY FOR HIM

Editor News:
A. l have not written to the News
in several years. l thought | would
say something in regard to che Dixie
Highway 1t seems to me the people
are burjened enough with tax alreany
on account of the $3.50 600 that 'was
borrowed in the year 1903, Of which
all has been paid but $i46 900 with on.
ly 10 yeais to pay that and intere"t.
The tax rate for 1908 was 81 30 on
the 800. Now it is $t90, a differ
euce of roc on the 81, and it costs this
difference to pay 81, 900.
Now, stop and think When we
come to pay the balance, or $146, 600.
with interest in 10 years, where will
our tax rate endt Now, let us use
good common sense in this matter, and
look at this matter in the proper light.
II the tax rata had to be raised from
81 40 in 1908 to 81 80 in 1914, and then
borrow $500, 900 it would bring our
tax rate up to 81 10 on the 500 over
what it was IN 1908
Nov, let all Who want to pay $50
on the 500 90 capital, bold up your
hand SO we can get good look at you.
It is claimed tnat it will raise prop
erty value, but in my mind it will de-
preciate it, for there are not many
who would want to buy in Marion
county after seeing the waste that was
made of the $3.50 600 on our pixies.
Why, tnere are only about 10 miles of
pike roads that can be called pike in
the county. The balance is not anv
better than the old fashioned dirt road
was before
Now, what is the Dixie Highway
for1 l will answer that question. 1t
is to furnish the rich people of Chi
cities to ride on, and pass G. E.
James kitchen. and you tax payers to
nay the cost Of it For my part | don't
care whether they come thru Marion
county or not So far a. am con-
cerned am against anything in the
road building line that they are in
favor Of There is nobody more in
favor of good roads than I am, but af
ter seeing the condition our roads
have ben in and are in, and the way
our road money is used. let US, for
goodness sake, not put any more mon
ey in our officials hands to be wasted
Now, brother farmer, If you are op
posed to Marion county borro wing this
$500, 900 take this up at your next
meeting and let US lend petition to
Nashville, asking tnat honorable body
to let Us vote on this que-tion, and If
they will not do that, LIT us come to
gntnei as one man and file a bill en-
joining our county court from issuing
bonds
Now, Mr. Editor, it seems to me
that our assessment law needs q
change. as there is 81, 900 exempt from
taxation in personal property Nov,
suppose have $1,000 in real estate
and g., 900 in personal property and it
was all taxed The rate Of 81 90 coula
be cut in two, which would be 95 cents
on the $1,000, and still pay same tax
that do at the present and the tax
picked up from all other personal
would go a long way to-
wards roads and school maintainances
without borrowing. $500, 900 just to
build the Dixie Highway to please au-
tomobile owners of Chicago.
For fear that this will reach the
waste basket, / will ring off and if this
meets the approval of the editors l
may come sgain. Wishing the editor
success and much prosperity, l will
sign my name.
G E. HANCOCK,
r. F. D. 1, Box 81, Jasper, Tenn.