The Robesonian., 1917-05-03
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1917
THE PROPOSED BOND ISSUE

ing bonds for roads it is importan
not to lose sight of the benefits
Those who oppose the proposed bon,
issue lay all the stress on what it i
proposed to spend and make it ap
pear that this amount of none,
would not be spent if bonds were no
issued, and they do not tell of tn
benefits to be derived from goot
roads. Looking at the question il
that way is on all fours with the wa,
some men hold dime so close t.
their eyes that thew cannot see a dol
lar a little farther off. Of course
1t is going to cost money to buil(
roads. Nobody denies that. But here
Is the point to consider: Which is bet
ter, to pay tax as heretofore and take
all time to build good roads, and nev.
er get them, or pay the same tax anG
get sufficient money to build gooc
roads right away?
Only the actual amount paid in
rcad taxes is considered, very often
As a matter of fact, counting the
wear and tear on vehicles and the in
creased cost of getting to market and
to church, or anywhere, it is safe to
gamble on the proposition
that every taxpayer in Rob
eson county who uses the roads
At all is going to pay more tax if
bonds are not voted than he will pay
It bonds are voted.
A circular was broadcast over the
county recently headed in bold type
"Road Million Dollar Bond Issue.
VI course the gentlemen who signed
this circular did not intend to mis-
lead, but some one might be confus-
ed. 1t is not the intention to vote
bonds twice. The Cough bill will not
pass, and the only thing to do at the
election May z is to elect road COM
missioners. At the election on May
the question of issuing bonds is to
be decided, and the amount is $780,
OOO-$8O,OOO a year for six years.
This circular states that this bond
issue will cost $924,U0O or more, in
Al years. At the rate of road taxes
now the people of Robson during the
same time will pay in road taxes
more than 81 100000, basing the cal
culation on $4,000 a year road taxes.
And at the end of that time, if we
depend on money raised by taxation
and continue as in the past, we shall
not have good roads and shall have
been paying all that time the heavy
mud tax, and shall have lost all the
benefits of good roads. If bonds are
voted, In Al years the county will
have spent on roads more than ST.
$4,000 and will have good roads inl
less than six years-will have enioy-
ed good roads all over the county for
IS years. If bonds are not voted
during that time, in Al years we shall
nave spent about the same amount
of money and will still not have
good roads. Which is better? -
In this circular some questions are
asked apparently not for informa-
ton but to raise fearful suspicion.
AS: Where will this money be
spent?" Why, let US hope, on the
roads, all over the county. "Who
will spend it," Men selected bv vote
OF the people. care they under
bond 2" Well, not. But, beloved, Mr..
>. w. Carter, whose name heads the
ilst on this circular, was chairman
Oh the boan1 of commissioners of Rob-
eson for number of years. He and
Jne commissioners who served with
MIN handled thousands of dollars of /
tue peoples money year after wear.
was ne under bond? Nav. not so.
Mr.. Carter is an honorable man-so
are they all, all honorable men-and
no one supposes that the money of
the county under his administration
was not spent as wisely as he and
MS associates knew how to spend e
Mr.. Jno. w. Ward, a member of the
present board Of county commission
ers, is another signer. The same
thing applies to him. Mr.. W. p Me-
Aillster was for \ spell member
OF a former road commission of Roh-
eson. Was he under bond? San.
thing applies.
The circular seems slightly mixed,
zoo, on the road tax. The law pro-
woes that the tax for maintenance
OF roads shall be ID on the $1O0
worth OF property. In addition, an
amount must be levied sufficient to
pay per cent interest on the
%, D0hos, II bonds are voted.
Inc interest will amount to $4,000
ene flrst year, $4,000 the second year,
and SO on up to $4,000, which is the
nndgnest ng figure. Interest will be s24,-
9oo the year after the fifth year, and
oe1ore the end of that time the peo-
pie OF the county will be getting the ,
ieo VI SOOu ROADS ana 1t is
nardly probable that the road tax :
Will ever exceed Is cents. But
what if it does reach 25 or
~ cents-it would be infinitely bet
eer to pay road tax of 25 OF 27 :
cents and have good roads than to {
pay Il cents and have no improved
roads to speak Of. '0N !;
Depend upon it, the advantages of >
good roads will far exceed in value
he difference in road tax, even if 6
axes are increased a few cents at
ne end of years. But 1t is hardly Z
probable that taxes will be increased
1t all. >oou
1t seems to The Robesonian that # :
fair and simple question of val. :
les and that it should not be difficult .
or the people Of the county to de- u
ide to vote bonds under a plan so !
advantageous as the Clark bill Of -
ers, securing money under State aid
no never having to pay It back. p
CUT THIS QUIT IS WORTH D
MnNEv N