The Robesonian., 1917-05-03
Fairmont, N. C.
April 27, 1917.
Against Road Bonds
To the F!itor of TIE Ro:. ESQ a


With reference to the elections
which are to be held on May 7tE and
9th, we desire to say that there
seems to be much misunderstanding
and confusion among the people OF
the county. Some signed the retl-
ton for the calling of the elertlcn
! under the "Clark blll'' thinking, it
seems, that it was petition against
al. bonds for roeds. It seems that
there were so many petitions in cir
culation that some of the solicitors
didn't understand the matter them
selves fully, and on account Of the
further fact they were urged to pro-
cure names as rapidly as possible,
some of the petitioners didn't under
stand what they were petitioning for.
The matter is of such gravity and
has assumed such serious pfopor-
tions that no man who has the well
fare of the people at heart can af-
ford to let the grass grow under his
feet till after these elections.
We note that some Of our friends
who are favoring the passage Of the
"Clark bill'' say it reads to them
like dream. Being somewhat Of a
dreamer ourselves, we agree with
them. You must remember, though,
there are different kinds of dreams.
Dreamologists tell us there is kind
Of dream that runs into nightmare
before it ends. This measure reads
like that kind of a dream, especially
the last 35 years of it's duration.
During that period you know we will
have to raise and pay out $84O,000.
We will also have to get money from
some other source to keep up our
roads during. this 35 years FOR the
S48O,OO will only last six years.
You know we would only get $780,
900 a years for six years, and as we
have 25 totNnsh lps fn the county
that would only amount to a little
over three thousand dollars for each
| township per year, after which time
!. the interest would amount to S24,-
900 annually for 25 years, and not a
dollar to go on the roads. The ar
gument that this>proposition will not
cost us an additionai cent Of tax
shuld defeat it for the reason all
men ought to be intelligent enough
to shrink from proposition where
! in several hundreds of thousands OF
/ dollars are involved that will NOT cost
anything in the way Of additional in.
terest or additional burden.
A great bond issue is rather q
dangerous thing to saddle upon any
people, and especially where the sys-
tenn of spendin the money is as slack
as ours. The men that should be anc
are most interested in the genera
welfare Of our county are forced te
admit that our road money has here.
Il %nf Va% J, 1ox
under which it has been wasted die
than the "Clark bill'' provides fol
ing our roads under did not provide
should work his own plug mules ant
the county for first-class labor ane
. stock, neither did they provide that
, any old bill fellow might bring il
cation simply because he belonged tt
party.
:: Until the people are convinced
!, that these things will not be indulg
! lie funds, no additional burden slhcui.t
Again, these are the most precar:.
: GUS times We have ever witnessed
} We have been plunged into the blood
! lest world war the world has eve1
known. I'VE are raising great armies
: ard a great navy for the taxpayer
: to support and maintain. The Pres
/ ident of the United States even, has
) issued an appeal to the housewives
| to practice more rigid economv il
: preparing and dispensing food. What
: does all this mean? What are We
: facing?
: Please compare what We are be
: ing told about this matter to what
l we have already been told about mat
| ters of equal Importance. Five years
t ago we were told that the price Of
sugar and shoes and other necessities
: were too high and that the cost oil
living would be lowered. One veal
ago we We're told that this natior
= should and would be kept out of war
With each successive Legislature we
: have been told that we will be give1
a road law that will be a good one
( this time.
t A mortgage bond against Robeso1
! county in the sum OF $4,000 bearing
f 1-2 per cent interest, is already il
the hands of ]. F. Mckay & com
rany, Chicago, and we are doomed
t to pay an annual interest of $275(
4 on said bond until 1887. Also +. H
Rollins & Sons of Boston hold bond.
t aainst us amounting to $25 700 at
per cent. We must pay that concern
t $3.50 interest annually until 1889.
In the light Of all these things W,
}, personally oppose this additional in
!, debtedness and feel like great ma
), jority Of the people should also op
!, pose it. It is true we want the bes
!, there is for us, but we should thinl
}, along all lines in the interest of ou
J., general welfare and follow the ad
!: monition of the great apostle whe1
he said, whatsoever things are true
e whatsoever things are honest, what
soever things are just, whatsoeve
r things are pure, whatsoever thing
are lovely, whatsoever things are O
|, good report; if there be any virtue
and if there be any praise think Of