The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-11-12
READERS, ATTENTION!

The Good Roads Association feels
that the welfare and growth OF the
county imperatively need the con-
struction at as early a date as posi-
BILE of a complete system of hard sur
face permanent roads, hard in win
tel as we'll as in summer-serVlng
every settled portion OF the county.
There Is no need to point out the
economic value to the community or
good roads. Every sane person nova
days admits the enormous import
ance OF good roads to the city dwell
er not less than to the farmer,-for
produce transported over hard roads
to the city can obviously be sold in
the city at substantially lower prices
than when the condition of the roads
makes the haul difficult or impossible.
To the farmer hard roads mean mon
ey in his pocket.
Hard roads through Snohomish
county would attract new settlers and
encourage the opening of new farms
more than any other influence with
in the reach of the present residents
of the county. These improvements
will rapidly add to the assessable
valuation of the county and to that
extent lift the general burden Of tax
alton off the shoulders OF those who
now pay it all.
The present movement for building
hard roads by bonding the county
originated not with the county Off
Gals, but with public-spirited citizens
from all sections of the county. Sew
eral mass meetings were held at Ev-
erett month or two ago attended
by delegates from every town and
district in the county at which the
proposition was discussed, and a spe.
cial committee Of eighteen men, six
from each road district, put in many
hours OF hard study and discussion
of the subject, with the result that a
plan of location Of hard roads was
evolved that has met very nearly
unanimous satisfaction.
The bond issue, If it is supported
by the voters, authorizes the County
Commissioners to sell the bonds in
such portions as they can use to good
advantage each year, and no more.
This means, for instance, that the
first year they will sell perhaps $400,-
900 or 100000 worth of bonds; the
second year possibly another 100000
the third year another 100000 and
the fourth year further installment
1t is variously estimated that it will
require from three to five years to
build the system of roads contemplat.
ed, and as no bonds will be sold I'M
til the money to be raised by them is
needed, interest will not begin to &C
crue on the total issue of bonds until
the last of them are issued and the
In former campaigns for road bonds
much has been said against their is,
sue on the ground that taxes would
be raised to an oppressive degree to
carry the bonds. There is no sound
reason to fear such a result in this
instance. The County Commission
ers have given their written pledge
to reduce the road district leyies in
the event the bonds carry from their
present figure Of ten mills down to
six, and to cut the road and bridge
levy from the customary levy of a lit
tie over three and one-half down to
two and one-half mills. This reduc-
ton will aggregate approximately an
amount equal to the annual bond pay
ments Of principal and interest if the
interest is to be AZ per cent. The
reason the Commissioners can make
this cut is because the paving of the
roads will cut out the greater part of
the present annual cost of up-keep
of dirt roads In the belief of the
good roads committee the bonds can
be carried to final payment with no
increase at all Of taxes in the road
districts and very small raise else.
where.