Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-04-16

"On the 100000 bonds which are
outstanding there was no interest due
until 1914, so when the first interest
was payable, amounting to $10,T50, we
had on hand approximately $4,000
from the sale OF automobile licenses.
BY reference to the above table Of
receipts you viii readily see that we
have more than years interest ahead
/ ON this entire bond issue at the present
time.
eIf we vote these additional bonds It
is believed that we can sell them at
or Az per cent interest. We would not
use over $4,000 Of the money this year,
and no interest would be due until a
year from the time they are sold. so II
you will again refer to the figures given
above you will see that we have enough
money on hand at the present time TO
pay the interest on these new bonds
which will be due in 1917. OF course
| in 1917 we will again receive the IL
cense money. which will pay our inter
est for 1918.
| There is another thing which should
not be lost sight of, and that is that
the number of automobiles is rapidly
increasing. Space will not permit us
to give a detailed statement of this in
crease, but II has averaged II per cent
per year since 1918. II is believed by
those who have made a careful study Of
| this question that the automobile IL
censes in Ada county will pay every
dollar of interest on 100000 of bonds
and will also create sinking fund suf-
ficient to pay the principal, and that we
will thus have our good roads con-
structed and principal and interest paid
from automobile licenses.
Good Roads Will Lower Taxes.
! THE upkeep of poor roads has been
| tremendous burden upon the taxpayers
of Ada county. Few people realize that
since 1908 we have paid an average of
$4,000 a year. raised by direct taxa
| ton, for repair of our roads and
bridges that in 1912 and 1913, we spent
$279,544.3S, raised by direct taxation for
repair and building of roads and
bridges. We then voted the bonds
which are outstanding and built our
present good roads.
| In addition to the roads constructed,
we purchased and paid for complete
and modern bodybuilding machinery.
This was a heavy expense when we be-
gan building roads. We will not have
| this expense in the future.
THE saving to taxpayers is in this:
1t costs about % per cent as much to
keep a good road in repair as 1t does
poor road. Therefore, when a mile
of good road is constructed the upkeep
| of it is 10 per cent less than the up
keep of a poor road. This upkeep ex-
pense must be paid by direct taxation.
| "An1ther matter which should be
borne in mind Is this: That a good
road increases the value of every acre
of land adjoining it, and of every
pound of produce which the farmer has
to sell. This is so clearly fact that
| it needs no argument.
"Also remember that every dollar
voted in bonds for good roads will be
spent in the farming communities of
Ada county. No expenditures, under
the law, can be made in Boise city or
other incorporated cities or villages.
! ConcIusions.l
THE conclusions which are to be
drawn from the above facts are these:
"First-If we vote the bonds on April
| 20, the licenses from automobiles in
Ada county will pay the interest and
principal and we have the good roads
for nothing.
"Second-We will save Is per cent of
the maintenance charges on good roads
as against the maintenance charge on
bad roads. This will be saved to tax
payers.
"Third-Good roads increase the
value of farms and farm produce.
"Fourth-Good roads mean more
people in Ada county; more people
mean greater prosperity; greater pros
perity means greater happiness.
ARE not these things worth having?
The data given In this letter is Sc
cured from the county assessors office,
the state treasurer's office, and the
Idaho statutes. and can be verified by
anyone desiring to do so.
Be Sure and Vote.
THE bond election in 1914 failed to
carry by 02-3 votes. This election
was lost because the voters failed to
go to the polls. Only one voter In
every five in Ada county cast. his vote.
II you are in favor of good roads, see
that yourself, your family and friends
vote. 1t is the vote in the ballot box
which counts.
Respectfully yours,
| ar'. L. MARTIN,
Chairman Good Roads Election Com
! mittee.
FRANK GARDNER,
u. E. ROBERTS,