Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1916-11-02
VOTE CAREFULLY.

Hara ia the situation which Will
come up before the voters OF MARION
County next Tuesday as compared
with a similar situation when once
existed In Hamilton County. I'M
Hamilton County has pretty FAR
yoaf,s. al we'll as lots OF advantages
which do not exist in Marion county.
The roads there are largely the resui'
A ar extensive bonding system. winch
has resulted in Hamilton Counsy
=. dnbbed the worst bonded county
In the state The people OF Hamii-
Ton GO unity seem to enjoy their roaos.
and they do not mind paying interest,"
On bonds for years to come, proylueu
they have the use of the roads; HOW
ever, there is plenty of wealth over
tiara TO stand the racket and ths IN
terest question is not question 81 At
snmsnt. or ut least not greatly TO-
There are business enterprises afser
business enterprises located over tnore'
from which there is abundant tax VA
ne to realize interest Their tax RATE
even with this bonded Indebtedness.
Is lower than this county's. and this
includes a large number OF advantages
vhich do not exist in this county.
In Marion the tax rate is $1s 90 per
.housand, We now have bonded IN.
debtednsss OF approximately $3.50, ooo'
This irdsbtedn ess was made for the
aole nurpoae Of building roads IN the
county. For this amount so far we
have only one road of much worth IN
the county, and that is not IN the pest
az renair In its entire length. Inc
other roaos which we're proposed TO De
built we're merely graded little ana
wore out after few rains For tn1S
kind of road building, the people are
paying too heavily. ...-
It seems to be the intention OF some
of the citizens of Marion to initiate
Hamilton county in its road ouliolng
methods. towit: To issue bonds up
ON ton of bonds without thought OF
ever paying off the principal leaving
that to future generation to settle
This would be approximately correct
if there was slightest chance or as
mneh business az exists in Hamilton
County ever coming to this county
but this is an impossibillty. Rail
roads will not come thru this county
unless there is a possibility Of business
coming to them, and vice versa take
the railroads away from Chattanooga
ana in q little while there would De
no business there to tax. Marion
County has only limited amount OF
business, aud limited area OF high
class farming land to tax, and the
limit has been reached on taxation fol
this county, unless the Deity chooses to
charge the seasons to more equabie
basis than at pre.ent
The people who have tue sense to
see are becoming awake to The fact
that Mation's tax rate is entirely toe
high for the advantages obtained
They arc confronted with this fact,
too, that with this high tax rate we
ars not paying one cent on the prin'
cinal of the recent bond issue, and
viii not pay any until Xix years shall
have elapsed.
Tlis ia the situation which confronti
this ,eotIa of Marion next Tuesday
The que ton IL whether they shnl.
vote for an extenuation of this sys
tam. or not 1t is possible for voter
to vote for an exteuuation of this sys
fem il they 10 not stuiy the matter
carefully b. fore thty east their ballot
and be ware of sy.tem which is beint
inaugurated for Marion county. Re
member, that all the Leolle of Hamil
ton county are not enjoying gooC
roads There ara districts where goot
roads are as much back number al
s. !, some districts of Marion The rul,
seems to be that where bonds ara Is
suel the sections paying the largea
amount of taxes get the good road
first and the remoter districts get th,
taxes. This is the system under whicl
t,e bond system for roads works, ant
il il unavoidable in o mea>ure. TO
the larger taxing districts are the cen
tres of population. and the good road