Osage County Volksblatt. (Westphalia, Mo.) 1896-1917, 1917-05-31
STATEMENT.

STATEMENT.
The advantage of a county wide
bond issue over special districts or
priv;ne donations for the building Of
public. roads should be called to the
attention Of all taxpayers in your
county.
ut isn't fair for few individuals
along q stretch of road in a county
to go down into their pockets and pay
for the construction Of a road which
is a benefit 10 the whole county.
while special districts generally
demonstrate the value Of the contract
system in building roads: it is not ex-
actly fair to the county to form these
special road districts and eXpend most
Of the road revenues Of the county on
a kAited mileage Of roads. 1t is bet
ter for the county TO vote a county
wide bond issue and improve all Of
the roads within the county. But
where counties fail 10 take this pro
gressive step, the special road dis
trict should not be discouraged.
BY voting serial type bonds. your
county court would he AUTHORIZED
to incur an Indebtedness not 20 eX-
cced certain amount of money. for
road and bridge construction. II you
were To authorize $2oo.uO worth Of
bonds in Usage county. no interest
would commence on any part Of this
authorized debt until bonds We're sold
To pay for specified projects. II might
not be necessary to issue all the bonds.
and no interest could be charged, OF
course. except on bonds sold and out
standing. The bonds would have 10
be issued and retired within ;hA
twenty wear period from date Of
authorization.
Il have conducted four countrywide
bond issue campaigns. and IN each
county, after making a careful study
of tax levieS and physical conditions.
have found that under the serial type
plan. properly owners will actually
pay less taxes than under the road
overseer and poll tax system Of build
ing public roads.
"0Sace county taxpayers are IN
terested in more than one bridge. or
more than one road. A countrywide
bond issue would mean the improve
mcnt Of every mile Of road within the
county.
There is another marked differ
cnce between voting bonds and CON
tinuing the present system Of patch
work on public roads II bonds are
voted. your people will have the bene-
iii OF good roads NOW, while they
~, md a
present system Of spreading on, your
limited amount OF road money over
the whole county. and depending upon
the patch work plan, il will he many
wears before you can hope 70 gct out
of the mud.
Tax PAYERS should not overlook the
fac; that the building Of better roads
will materially increase the taxable
wealth of the county. without increaS-
ing the assessed valuation of property
owned by individuals. Better roads
will mean the Improvement ot more
farms. The erection Of industrial eStah-
hShmentS. and a general expansion Of
all mercantile lines. Every new build
ing erected in your county. all farm
machinery and stock purchased. every
stock Of goods inStalled--in fact, all
Improvements. are placed on the TAX
books and add TO the wealth Of your
county. As the taxable wealth Of
your county is increased, your tax rate
will be decreased. You have sufficient
revenues in your county for all pur-
poses. except the building of roads
and bridges. In order 10 increase this
fund. you must either raise the assess
ed valuation Of all property within
the county. or vote bonds. The con-
stitution will not permit you TO make
an increased general tax levy. II you
increase the assessed valuation Of al
property. you will send Is cents or
every hundred dollars Of increased
assessment TO jefferson City. to be
among the other iiS eoun-
ties of Missouri. The increased as
sessment will 60 on for all time to
come. II you vote bonds. you will
spend all the money on roads within
your county. and the obligations must
end within twenty years.
Il cannot 90 into details In the
limited time and space I have At my
but viii be glad TO advise