Charlevoix county herald., 1917-10-12
Good Roads
Everywhere
CHARLEVOIX COUNTY
ROAD IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATION.

We met at Boyne Falls, we were con-
quered. We sat in at the game. Here
is where the child was born and where
the graduation exercises took place, al
the Town Hall, Monday evening, Oct.
lst, 1917, name concrete, age not given
but the standing was 100 in everything.
Prof. Bill Pearson, our own old reliable
Bill, yes, he came to the rescue, set
aside all selfish claims, in the general
meeting, and with the executive, COM
piled the amounts assigned for each
part Of the county, which cannot help
being satisfactory to all concerned.
This was the best meeting that the
CHARLEVOIX COUNTY ROAD I'M
PROVEMENT ASSOCIATION ever
held. Everybody was satisfied that we
would bond and raise $3.50, 900, and Mr..
Ruessegger had the figures to show
that in addition to the 1850, 900 and with
it, we would add to this sum as receiv.
ed from federal aid and state aid, the
extra sum of $277, 300. Anyone can see
what lot Of good work can be done in
Charlevoix County with this sum, and
the best part of it is that not dollar OF
the $3.50, 600 will have to be paid under
20 years, this being the longest term q
bond can be made for according to our
state laws, but then we can renew the
bonds, because the county will have sc
increased in value, that the security
will be double what il is now, and the
concrete roads will be just as good then
as they are now IL the three pieces ol
| concrete road built in CharlevoiX
County, seven and eight years of age,
which are in as good condition now as
they were when they were built, is any
criterion to go by.
| Van Pelt has good deal to say about
good gravel roads for every farmer in
Charlevoix County, and concrete roads
for all the main roads, with a row oi
apple or cherry trees on either side oi
the road. No one has worked more un
remittingly,, earnestly or unselfishly
than he has. He has said over and over
again that the road tax, next to the wal
tax, is the greatest tax of any in the
United State, the state, the county anc
township, and necessarily must be, be-
cause of the lack of knowledge ir
building roads, and the still greater ex
pense of keeping the roads in gooc
condition. That the upkeep Of the dir
road will be much greater than the
original cost of the road.
II was for the saving of this great ta>
that he began to wage war on the
system, but not on individuals. The taS
payers can do that il they see that the
roads are not properly built, and il the
proper men are not elected, and if no
qualified, IL not sober, temperate, hon
est men who do not work for the bes
interest of the city's or county's, it i.
up to the tax payers to adjust this, anc
to demand strict accounting for every
item charged up to the road account.
That the tax payers will, by an over
whelming majority, vote that $3.50, OO(
be raised by bonding, really goes with
out question.
BECAUSE, by so doing the roads car
be built right away by contract and un
der state and government inspection
and we will have the use OF them now
In the meantime, our county road com
missioners can 60 right on building &C
cording to the present system and tr.
to keep the roads which we have al
ready built in passable condition, which
have cost US approximately $l75,OOO o.
500, 900. The top dressing is prett!
well worn off on most of the Boyn,
City road. And this work alone viii
take lots OF time and cost lots Of money
Van Pelt claims that the running o
cars over these roads as they are today
costs the automobile owners 200 pc
cent more than II would over concret,
road. We begin to think he is right
We urge upon every voter and ever,
citizen who has the interest Of Charlie
voix County at heart, to Join the asso
citation Of commerce nearest the home
thereby becoming a member OF tn
Charlevoix County Road Improvement
Association, and for all to work TO
every good thing which will In any wa,
be benefit to the County.
There Is a great necessity for such al
organization in order to discuss tn
city's and county's affairs. There
need to band together for the promul
CATION Of the unified views that wi
help right public opinion.
We believe that the business me
and farmers are face to face with
--~r.otorv ., ,acos sitv FOR 70 akfnO a doo