Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-05-14
GOOD ROADS AND BONDS.

At the last meeting Of the Board
Of Commissioners of Roads and Rev
enue of Sumter county, perhaps one
of tie most important matters under
consideration was that of deyising
some means whereby the highways of
the county may be maintained at their
highest standard of efficiency with the
the least financial burden on the tax
rayer.
Serious consideration was given a
proposition to put before the voters
for their approval, a bond issue of
800 coo, the proceeds of which would
be used in making permanent i'm
pIovements In the transportation facil-
tiles for vehicular traffic. This means
that the bond money would go into the
building of better roads, new roads,
better bridges, new bridges.
Sumter county has long enjoyed the
reputation as the good roads county"
OF Georgia. Her highways have been
the synosure of all eyes and motoring
tourists from other states have re-
marked upon the high standard of err
cellence maintained by Sumter county
in the care of her public roads.
But what of the financial side of the
situation? Sumter county's roads have
kter built with money secured by di.
rect taxation and with the develop
ment of our agricultural resources and
the constantly increasing demand for
better transportation facilities for ve-
hiCular traffic, new roads must be con-
sin cted, while the. old highways must
at the sane time be kept in good con-
dition. If we are to continue to build
OFF roads under the system of direct
taxation, the burden is going to become
decidedly irksome and the taxpayer is
going to dig deeper into his jeans to
meet the demands upon him.
Good, permanent highways, built
With the proceeds of bonds and main
tanned in repair by the funds received
from direct taxation, the ordinary
method, mean a reduction in taxes. for
Notwithstanding the levy necessary to
prlgfde a sinking fund to retire the
bonds, the direct taxation for mainte-
nance of roads decreases and the re-
suit is a reduction in the amount each
taxpayer contributes annually to the
civic treasury.
But the voters of Sumter county are
not going to approve any bonS issue
for permanent road and bridge i'm.
provement unless definite program oil
/ highway construction is announced By
the county commissioners. Ever!
section of the county must gets It;
share of the benefits to be derived from
such bond issue; there must be nj
suspicion OF favoritism and the citi
zens of each district must be assure,
beyond the shadow of doubt that
bonds are voted for the purpose o
making permanent road improvements
the money will be equitably appor
toned.
There can be no question but tina
While Sumter county has enjoyed an
is enjoying the benefits of good roads
there exists much dissatisfaction /
certain sections, the residents of whic
believe, and justly so, that they hav
not been accorded the considerable
I due them in the matter of road con
struction.
There is no use in beating aroun
the bush" in the discussion of this mat
ter The voters in the rural district
can overshadow the city vote when
comes to balloting on bond issue an
the rural districts are going to see t
it that they are given satisfactory as
lsdrance of an equitable distribution O
road funds before they will line u
for any bond issue of this character.
The soundness of the theory of roa
and bridge bonds has been demonstrat