The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1917-02-02
''Speedways for Joyriders"

Occasionally some very conserva-
tive man who owns life lease on
some land makes remark which
he thinks should and frequently
does stop all argument, something
like the following, II don't want to
mortgage my land for the purpose
Of building speedways for joy
riders.''
This is usually said in beliger-
ent tone of voice, with the loud
pedal on and when so delivered it is
usually quite effective, but like
many another loud remark it should
be investigated little before ac-
cepted as final. Let US examine
the following figures for a moment
and see if they do not shed an addi-
tional light on the question.
First we are now paying some
thing like $4,000 per annum for
roads which last three or four
months of the year and that at a
period when the farmer has not the
spare time from his farming oper-
ations, to use them. This same a.
mount will come next year for at
tention of the taxpayer and will be
repeated with a considerable gain
each year thereafter, but still we
will be travelling on a dirt road
which is temporary in nature and
will stand but little traffic before
it will be cut up into dust or into
mud holes.
We will suppose that it should be
determined to bond this county for
$1,000,000 to build permanent
road system, the interest on that
amount would be SAT 900 or $23, 900
less than we are now wasting.
Suppose we place this $4,000 in
sinking fund for the purpose of as
sisting in paying off the principal
when it should become due, in 20
years we would have $460,O00 to
apply on the principal sum reducing
that to $540, 900, then in less than 8
years the continued levy of the an
nual sum of $4,000 would pay off
the balance and the roads would
have been used for % years all the
year around, the value of the prop
erty adjacent thereto or served by
E them would have enhanced in value,
if we follow the experience in east
! ern states to double and in some
cases thrice their former value, and
no extra levy has been incurred in
accomplishing it.
These figures do not take credit
for the interest which would accrue
on the large sum of money which
would rest in the sinking fund,
j which we will now take slant at:
0 If the sinking fund were so ham
e died as to get percent from it and
t many banks would undertake that
d task, at the end of the tenth year
It it would contain the sum of
n $3O3,745 which applied to the prin-
is cipal would leave $697. 900. After
e this, according to the law under
If which such bonds are issued, allow
ir ing the Highway district to pay, at
z its option any portion if such por.
* tion of the annual $4,000 as would
'e be left after the interest is paid
should be applied on the principal
9, thus reducing the total amount
h each year, the entire sum would bt
If paid off in % years from the date
of the issuance of the bonds. Thu:
~ the roads would be built and usee
ID twenty three years continually win
70 ter, spring, summer and fall, rail-
20 or dry season, and not dollar
more of taxes assessed nor collected
more than we are now paying eacl
of year.
OF This is not however intended t,
n. favor county bonding as the High
70 way district is much more compac
~ and better organized to accomplish
ie direct and economical results, leav
to ing each community to work on
d, their own problems as they know
he how they should be worked out
bo but simply illustrates that we ar