The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-04-14
BONDS. OR BONDAGE?

vote the SSOO,OOU DOnu ISSUE way AV'
or remain in bondage, slaves to the
same old mud holes that have be-
spattered the faces of our forefath-
ers since the garden spot that was
laid ont and .fealled Ohio county.
Will we take our place in the ranks
of progressive Kentucky counties, or
will we bid farewell to those who do
things and settle down for another
nap?
The bond issue has its opposition.
1t has its defects. Those who differ
with us have a perfect right to their
opinion. He who would dare deny
a man that right steals all. Further,
we respect the opinions of the man
who opposes the bonds, but he would
be more greatly respected II he would
come forth with another means by
which we could, have good roads, for
no man will say that he is opposed
to such. The reason for it is, there
is no. other way. We have spent
thousands and thousands of dollars
upon our roads but aside from our
few miles of pike what have we to
show for it? The trouble is we have
spent dollar here and dollar there
and the result has not been satisfac-
tory. We need a lump sum that will
enable us to do our work we'll, and
how can we get it without voting
bonds?
The increase in taxes will serious
ly affect no one. The highest our
taxes possibly can be raised is twenty
cents on the hundred dollars. We
are now paying five cents to the
State-aid fund without getting the re-
turn. Our five cents on the hundred
dollars worth of property goes to
those counties taking advantage OF
the fund. The State-aid law was
passed for the benefit of just such
counties as ours. For every dollar
we put up the State proposes to put
up another. If your neighbor offered
to cover every dollar you put up for
improvement on your own farm
would you scorn the proposition? If
you were a good business man you
would figure how much money should
be spent on such improvement and If
you didn't have the ready cash you
would borrow it. You could afford
to when you were receiving a like
amount from the neighbor. The
same would be true of the merchant
or any other business man. Now
that is just what we are voting on.
The State offers to put up 100000
for the improvement of the roads in
Ohio county if we put up like
amount.
1t is not a fight between property
owners and non-property owners.
Some of the owners of the most
valuable and extensive property
in the county favor the bonds.
If this is believed a myth we
stand ready to back up the state
ment. The policy of the railroads
running through the county is said
to be favorable to the issue. Would
not they receive their increase in
taxes? They see that the farmer
could get more produce to them to
transport as freight. Isn't it to the
advantage of the farmer to get more
produce to them to deliver to the
market? Wouldn't it likewise help
the banker and the merchant to have
better roads?
1t is true that we are not all prop
erty owners. That the burden would
fall upon those that have accumulat-
ed an amount of the goods of the
world. But wouldn't they reap the
major portion of the financial bene-
fits? Regardless, what man is there
who does not entertain desire some
where within himself to accumulate
riches, small or large, as time goes
on? If his dream is converted into
reality within the next twenty-five
or thirty years he will help pay for
the roads upon which he travels.
And rightfully. Many of our fathers
paid a toll for travelling on the roads.
But they have wiped out the toll gate
and we have benefited. Shouldn't
we deem it a duty to make improve
ments for the sons that follow. The
toll gate is now looked upon as cur
iosity. So will be the mud hole in
the grand future.