Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1918-08-15
FARMER WRITES ESTINC LETTER
WHY SHOULD VOTE GOODROADS
Says That Now Is Time To Improve Parish While Re-
sources Are Being Removed So That This Parish Will
Not Be Like Several In Alabama, Mississippi and
Some in Louisiana

Upon examination of the assess
ment for taxes for the year 1917 you
will find that non-residents together
with the residents of Franklinton and
Boealusa pay a little more than SO
per cent of the taxes of the entire
parish of Washington. That means
practically every time Mr.. Farmer
lays down his thirty-six cents to build
roads, which roads he needs more
than anybody else, Mr.. Nonresident
and Mr.. Townsman must lay down his
sixty-four cents for the same purpose.
A farmer who lives way back in
the country with large family and a
small tax to pay was heard to remark
not long ago, as follows; "They tell
us that them fellers in New York and
other places way yonder will have to
pay most of the tax that it takes to
build our roads, and that is one rea-
son why we ought to vote for the
tax. Now l don't believe that way
about it. In fact to try to vote a
big tax on these fellers that own
this land and timber in Washington
parish makes me feel like | was try
ing to get something for nothing.
and ! don't believe it is hardly fair
to the fellers who is not here and
can't have his say in the election"
Now it may be that there are a
number of well-meaning citizens
who are inclined to take this same
view Of the matter, and for the BEN
eft Of those who are inclined to
think about it in this way, we viii
ask them this question: Suppose
You owned large brick building IN
the business district of the City Of
New York which building is bringing
you lot of revenue, and the net
revenue from which Is being sent to
you ia your home here IN Washing
ton parish 81 IS II NOS, right
and proper for your property in the
City of New York to bear its Just
proportion of the taxes for the
building and for the maintenance of
the streets in the City Of New York?
And further, we would like to state
that the owners of the tinbered
wealth of Washington parish, which.
is our chief natural resource, natur-
ally expect to stand reasonable and
just proportion of the taxes for the
upbuildinbg, not only of our schools
and general expenses, but for the
construction and maintenance of
good roads and bridges. And lust
here let US take notice that we in
Washington parish are fortunate in
the fact that the nonresident own
ers of the major portion Of the tim
bered wealth and land of Washing
ton parish are friendly disposed to-
ward the present proposition to vete
a tax in support Of bond issue for
the construction and maintenance of
good roads. The foregoing win show
that the principal burden Of this tax
will fall on them, at the same time
they are big enough ard broad-mind-
ed enough to see and know that I'M
less good roads and public improve
n1ents are built uD to the maximum
condition in Washington parish dur
ing the time when the resources are
being developed and during that Pc
Rod of prosperity before this tim
Der has all been manufactured into
lumber that It win be too late.
They are big enough and have
business sense enough to know that
unless first-class roads thru the
country are constructed So as to con-
meet the country people with the
towns and cities on the railroads,
which will create 4 demand for coun-
try property, and which viii create
taste fer country and farm life
for The soldier boys when they re-
turn from war and for the rising
generations, flat the grass and weeds
win ultimately take the streets of
the towns and cities, and that the
railroad property win have to dis
continue operation for a lack Of
freight and tonnage. II these peo-
ple are willing for their property to
stand a just proportion of the taxes
to build the roads to be used by the
residents and Che people who live IN
in the country especially when they
together with the people of the towns
pay nearly 2-3 OF the taxes, how
much mere reason we, the residents
Of the country, should seize the op-
Portunity for ourselves and for the
sake Of our children. and for the
salEe Of our ehildrens children. to