The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1919-06-13
SEVERAL VIEWS OF
THE ROAD QUESTION
What would 1t profit us II the county
should get out of debt and lose all
her roads and bridges?
Getting the County Out Of Debt.


Getting the County Out of Debt.
Some OF our county officials are said
to have publicly declared that they
intend to get the county out of debt
by refusing to spend money for road
purposes. Let's see about that kind of
a brilliant scheme.
Suppose a merchant should conclude
to get out of debt by refusing to buy
more goods; by letting his stock run
down; by discharging all his help: by
failing to stop leaks in the roof which
are running his goods by refusing to
advertise; by declining TO sweep out
the store or brush the dust Off of the
goods because of the cost. of brooms
and brushes and labor. When the end
came, what about his condition? He
would have applied to his debts the
proceeds of sales made to few strag
Cling purchasers. but his business
would have been destroyed his re-
naming stock ruined, his reputation
as business man lost, his facilities
for doing business fallen into decay.
Would 1t not have been a better busi-
ness policy to keep the store going
right up to the top notch?
Suppose farmer should decide to
get out of debt by declining TO buy
seeds, tools, implements, horses, cat
tie, fencing, fertilizer, etc. Suppose he
should let all his machinery and plows
rust and rot out because he would
have to spend a little money for bolts
and screws and essential repairs and
sheds to protect them from the
weather. What would you say of such
Id punk financier?
Suppose a blacksmith should sell his
anvil and bellows and outfit TO pay on
his debts, leaving himself without any
tools with which to earn money, and
then refuse to 90 into debt for another
'outft what would be the verdict of a
jury?
What do the people expect in return
for taxes paid?
Roads, of course. That is the great
est need of the public in the transac-
tion OF business. Nothing of, impor-
tance can be done without roads.
Another thing they expect is faith
ful. energetic, Intelligent and business
like service. from the officials who re-
ceive salaries out OF the tax money.
The maintenance of the roads we
have, in as good condition as possible,
Job requires systematic and constant
attention. Rhe income OF the county
is sufficient to keep the<roads in pass
able condition all the time and meet
all necessary expenses. But it is not
an automatic proposition. 1t will not
work itself Some one must prosecute
the matter vigorously all the time.
$4,000 Indebtedness for Lawrence
county Is nothing to worry about if we
keep up our facilities for doing busi-
ness. This is less than one per cent OF
the amount at which our taxable prop
terty is listed. What successful busi-
ness man can you find who owes as
little as one per cent of his taxed
resources. There is not one such in
la hundred.
The way to get the county out of
debt is to wake up and make busi-
neSs proposition out of 1t. That Is
what 1t is-a big businessN proposition
and business methods and energetic
action are absolutely essential to re-
suits. When properly organized and
Differed the way to get county out
of debt is to bond it heavily for road
purposes, take the additional money
.offered by state and nation, build good
roads In business way, without graft
and without favor political-or other
wise
1t is a noticeable fact that in Boyd
county and many other counties the
courts ara appointing advisory com
mittees composed of their best business
men to assist in handling the road
problems. The law now authorizes
such action by the courts.