The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-06-10
ROADCOMmISSIONER
IN Statement TO
COUNTY VOTERS
State Commissioner Of Public Roads
Wiley Makes Statement to People
Of Mason County on Road
Tnx.

Although he was unable 10 ADDRESS
the voters OF Mason county, on the
Twenty-Cent Road Tax on last Satur-
day afternoon, Hon Rodman Wiley,
State Commissioner of Public Roads,
has prepared statement to the voters
of the county. 1t follows:
ION next Saturday, June 14th, an
election will be held in your county
for the purpose Of taking the sense Of
the voters on the zoe Road Tax.
Before voting the tax upon them
selves, the people naturally want to
know II the money is needed and for
what purpose 1t is to be used. II a
man has had any business dealings In
the last year or 80 he is thoroughly
acquainted with the fact that the price
of materials and labor has increased
The road question has not been the ex-
ception. Only short time ago labor
was $3.50 per day, now 1t is between
$3.50 and $500. Materials in all cases
were rather cheap but now they have
almost doubled in price, but the road
fund of your county has remained
practically at standstill. In other
words, the road fund has not increased
in the same ratio as labor and mater
ials, SO you are allowing your roads
to get a great deal worse than they
have been in the past.
Twenty cents on the 500 is only
81 on the $1,000 worth of property. To
the man who is assessed at $1,000, 1t
would mean that his extra tax would
be 81 which is only the price of two
(2) dinners at an average hotel. To
the man assessed at $4,000, it would
mean that his extra tan would be $40
which is the price Of barrel Of corn,
or four "a bushels of wheat or a
fifty (50) pound hog. To the man who
is assessed $4,000, it would mean he
must pay 500 extra tax, which is the
price of one, one hundred 600 pound
hog or about forty (40) pounds of to-
bacco, so you can easily see that the
tax does not amount to very much
money and when you consider the
benefits derived, / believe that you
will agree with me that they greatly
exceed the small outlay in money.
"The wear and tear of vehicles, in
travelling over bad roads will more
than offset the extra tax, besides, 1t
should be remembered that practical
ly all of the money expended by Ma
son county for road purposes is left
in the county and is practically all
used in hiring men and teams, and in
addition, you will get better roads.
ITO date thirty-five (35) counties
have voted the tax and already some
of the counties that have voted the
tax this season have a great deal bet
ter roads than you have in Mason
county.
ut is believed by a great many f.
nanciers that direct tax is preferable
to bond issue. In the first place, If
a bond issue was voted, 1t would be
necessary before the bonds we're re-
tired. to pay great deal of interest,
and all money which went to pay in
terest would not be expended on
roads. With the direct tax, every cent
collected goes for road purposes and
not for paying interest and not for re-
firing bonds.
Everybody is usually in favor of
Good Roads" but a great many peo-
pie seem to think that roads can be
built without money but such is not
the case. II the people want good
roads they will have to supply the
funds for construction and mainten-
ance, besides 1t is patriotic duty to
start road work at this time in order
to give employment to the boys who
have returned or will shortly return
from the army. The United States
Secretary Of Labor has on numerous
occasions, requested town, county and
state authorities to start road work
at once, in order that the soldiers may
be given work.