The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-04-13
ROAD BOND ISSUE
is THE ONLY WAY
TO Secure Ample Funds for Permanent
Good Roads Without Piling Up I'm
needed Money in Other Funds

| Tie oJdIe Would receive Sl.0O, the
county $4.00; while the road fund
would get but $3.50, Thus it will be
seen, that while trying to put more
money into the county road fund, the
other funds, which are now abundant
ly supplied-especially the school
fund-would receive far more than
there is any necessity for. To fur
ther illustrate the point we are ta-
/ tempting to make clear, take the
Flat River school district, which had
surplus on hand August 1. 1916, of
$2S,673.62; while the taxes for 1916
gives that district S35, ,106.47 addition
al, making total of $63,780.09 now
credited up to that district, for a
great part of which there is now alb
solutely no apparent need.
So it will be seen that very ma
terial raise in the assessed valuation
of the county would serve to put com
paratively little more into the coun-
ty road fund, the one place where it
is most needed. Therefore, it seems
plain to The Times that the one best
way-in fact the only way-to get
full and complete results for the in
stallation of a thorough and COM
plete system of good roads, the kind
that st. Francois county should have
and is entitled to, is by voting suit
able bond issue for such purpose. This
is the one way to get permanent good
roads throughout the county, and get
them NOW, while the present inhab-
itants are still on earth. But, best of
all, it will be the cheapest way, in the
long run, to handle this big PROPOSE
ton. 1t will not cost the resident
taxpayers cent more than they are
now paying. AS indicated above,
there is enough money now "fritted'
away on the public roads, to abso-
lutely no permanent good, to pay the
interest on half million bond issue,
as we'll as to create and keep up a
sinking fund by which the bonds can
be retired within the period of years
for which they may be issued.
1t may be true that the rising gen
Grafton may have some of this debt
to liquidate. But why shouldn't they?
viii they not have the use and bene-
fit that will come from perfect sys-
tenn of good roads, with no more tax
alton to them than you have been
forced to carry all these years. Are
you not ready to enjoy some of the
pleasures of life, such as good roads
will be so instrumental in bringing
10 you-and don't you feel that you
have justly earned for yourself an
lplIft, such as permanent good roads
will bring? Why continue to drag
your life away through muddy roads,
when the time for improvement is at
land, and the way is so plain? Cut
,ut the talk and get busy with a lit
lie actual work if you have any real
iesIre for road Improvement.
Another feature, of considerable
Importance, which should add more
n less interest and enthusiasm to the
solving of this momentous problem
1t once, is the fact that whatever the
of the bond issue that may be
'oted in this county, such amount will
'e duplicated by the Federal Govern
nent for improving the roads of st.
francois county. Don't you think we
ould use a million dollars advanta-
geously for such purpose? Well.
low, couldn't we, and every dollar
# it would do at least one dollars
worth of real good in putting the
highways of this county in a condi-
ion that would be second to none.
The value Of advertising alone that
uch movement would give to St.
francois county it would be abso-
utely impossible to even estimate.
t would stand out among all other
ounties as the most progressive, and
would, of course, follow that our
itizens are a little more advanced
han those in other communities, and
would therefore make neighbors al
ogether to be desired. Such a sys-
em of roads would pay for itself in
he course of few years in the
ighest class of citizenship it would be
he direct means of locating here, to
ay nothing of the inestimable bene-
t such roads would be to every citi-
en- of this county. And the best part
it all is that such system of good
Dads can be secured without raising
our taxes one penny. Are you ready
, invoke such a blessing on st.
rancois county? Then get busy!