The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-10-28
gPLL MAKE 1T SHORT

Editor Star: The Star says make
bond election articles short and to
the point. | am opposed to million
and a half dollar bond issue partly
because taxes are high now, but there
are other reasons. The proposed is
sue would approximately add $780,
937.50 a year interest, $4,000 a year
to create sinking fund to pay prin-
pical, and $4,000 a year for main
tainance-if roads are not kept up we
lose the principal and there are no
permanent" roads-and you have a i
total of .$210,937.5O a year. Road
contractors for profit and some auto
owners for pleasure may be for it. but
commoners should wait until the
world get back to normal conditions,
until we pass through this period of
strikes and probable panic; until a
dollar will buy 100 cents worth of
material and labor, the kind of dol
lars we will have to pay the bonds
with; until it is less difficult to scrape
up money to pay the present tax rate.
Also the time is too short to consider
a stupendous proposition like that. If
good, it will stand longer considera-
tion with full plans of expenditure
presented and guaranteed.
Here is an approximate statement
Of the cost of proposed roads and re-
suit:
PrnclpaI ......; 81 ,5OO,OOO
Interest first 10 years. -. 100000
Interest third five years.. 281 $50
Interest fourth five years. 187, 500
Total :. ;. ..,.......$ .$2,718, ,75O
The maintenance of roads would
be in addition to above cost, estimate
$4,000 a year (Which is low enough
as it would probably cost 100000 or
more) would amount to 100000
for the period of the bond issue, max
ing a grand total of $4,218,75O.
Now what do we get for this expen-
diture of nearly four and a quarter
million? Present abnormal prices on
material, labor, ETC.. would give us
about so per cent. of normal cost of
roads, so that in reality we would get
$750,000 worth of roads and, assum-
ing that conditions will get back to
normal in ten years, except for the
first few interest payments, we would
have to pay practically all the $4,218,-
750 in 100 cent dollars.
Don't you think the election has
been called too soon?
| think there is considerable infor-
nation that voters should have be-
fore voting Tor the bond issue.
George Stuart.
Mr.. Stuart's proposition is impos-
sible for the following reasons: The
law allows only eight mills levy for
roads. This amount is now fully
taken up and brings in about 100000
a year.
Instead of the election being called
too soon, it has been called at the last
minute. Unless the county bonds for
roads before Jan. l, 1929, it will lose
it's share of the state and federal
fund-$28O, 900, which. if we bond, is
to be used at once on our most impor-
tant roads.
The county levy is now 20 mills
raising about $21O.O0O. If we tried
to raise another 100000 by direct
taxation, it would run the levy up tc
at least Sc mills. and Mr.. Stuart, who
says he has a hard time paying his
taxes now, can figure on where he
would be if they were nearly dou'
bled.
We will not have to pay $75 a yea1
for permanent roads, let alone SIS,
600, and we have no guarantee thai
work and material will cost less ter
years from now than now.
Any good business man or contrac
tor can tell Mr.. Stuart that the coun
ty can obtain much more work ant
better in proportion by spending
$1,500,000 in lump than by spread
ing the same amount over eigh
years, especially when by adopting
the latter method you lose $280,0O0 a
the beginning.
No we can't spend 100000 a yea
for seven years and 100000 for on
year on our roads. meantime eithe
putting down f1imsy roads that woul
be as badly off as ever at the end o
the eight years. or else let portion
of the county, beginning with seven
eights the first and slowly taperin
down to one-eighth the last. go neg
lected. We must do business in