The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-03-11
MORE ROAD TALK

"A great many people OF this COM
munity are opposed to the proposed
bond issue for road improvement.
not because they do not need good
roads, but because of the method in
which 1t is TO be done
Estimating that there are 10000
road taxpayers in Anderson county,
and that less than half of these own
any real estate, we can readily see
who will bear the burden OF this bond
issue. True, 1t will not be unbearable
by the man who does happen to own
real estate. but unfairness is the
point at stake Do you, MIR. Editor,
or any other fair-minded person
think the industrious landowner
should build good roads for the less
industrious of both races? Very few
negroes own any land. yet they travel
the roads as much as white people.
They may not do 90 much heavy haul
Ing as the larger white farmers. but
they Will ride about. The only feast
Die plan we see out of the present
situation is, vote down the bond is
sue, -then. have our road tax raised TO
2.5u each. The interest on
the S1bGOO0 at ) per cent for forty
years VIII be Sl,500,000. This sounds
IKE a big pile of money. but listen,
The extra 81 80 for road tax, should
IT be 81 so instead of 81 90, applied
only to permanent improvements
and paid by every tax payer will
amount to $960,000 dollars plus inter-
est. This plan will not be unfair.
Every man pays the same, regardless
or his property owning. A mans pro-
perty should have nothing to do with
this road taxing system. Every man
pays on dollar poll tax for schools.
Ihey might IS we'll pay 50. 80 for
roads. A mans property. may en-
nance in value because Of good roads,
nut he has paid his share.
Now some may claim, as you have
already done that the farmers only
pay thirty cents out of every dollar
of the money raised by this project.
This Is doubtless correct, but the
farmers have their objections to this
thing, not because of the burden on
iy. but because of an extra commits
sion going In with it, We don't know
personally more than two or three of
this commission. and have no fight
10 make against them We have.
however, road supervisor and four
district commissioners, elected by the
people. These men are experienced
IN ROAD work, more SO than the new
commission. They can take over the
work and carry it along with their
temporary roadwork. If they should
demand larger salaries to do this
their salaries might be raised COM
nensurate with the work done, and
II too great an increase is demand
ed, they could resign and their places
ne filled by some In that army of un-
emDlOVQ6 in tho pnftpfv x.,l,0 -.
xious for even living wage. The
supply OF material qualified is testi-
lied to by the number OF candidates
Tor the commissioners places last
summer. Yes, these commissioners
VINO have been neglected by tn Iople
could carry on this work, giving first
at'eltion to- permanent location ,of
highways, then to the travelling doife
over them. No one will denyat that it
is unwise t9l macadamizes r9j1tis flIst
are not permanently located, else the
work will be thrown away Anyone
also will agree that traffic oYerstthe,
roads given attention should be a
factnr
A question with some is, What is
meant by permanent roads," they
desiring to know whether or not
macadamizing the roads is meant
We see no other way OF answering
this question for other so-called per-
manent roads have lost their identi-
ty this winter. The material for this
work is in the bounds of the county.
Our opinion is, that at Williamson,
Portman Shokls, High Shoals, Lee
Shoals and similar places distributed
over the county, there can be suf-
ficient quantity of,rock obtained. The
sand is here, and tar can be gotten
elsewhere, If it is Gesifed for the
work.
Just suppose trolley lines running
through the county. anyway, be done.
Our people would much more readi-
ly take to that, and unless We had
moro experience in financing the
building OF one, we will take for
granted that It can be done for the
same amount OF money. This would
eliminate the long and heavy. hauling
proposition. and leave the dirt roads
TO lighter vehicles and the .automo-
bile ma1a.