Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-12-16
GOOD ROADS AND THE
BOND PROPOSITION
BY JUDGE A. H. REID

BY JUDGE a. II. NELL
A proposal to bond the County for
about per cent of it's assessed Valu-
alton in order to build a system OF
concrete and gravel roads within the
county has been adopted by the County
Board and will be submitted to the
| people at special election to be held
december goth next The discussion
of the advisability of voting for the
proposition is now well under way,
We will attempt to assist our readers
to an understanding of the proposition
so far as we are able.
The figures presented in the propo-
sition at the first glance seem large
and impressive. They are impressive
that they tend at once to make the
timid careful citizen who is also a
substantial tax payer fear to favor the
proposition. Four million dollars is of
course a huge sum of money, though
not more than enough for the sys-
TEN of roads proposed But if each
tax payer will consider only the share
which will fall to him to ultimately
pay he will not feel quite so deeply
impressed by the burden.
| 1t is proposed to issue the bonds
proceeds. According to the best cal
culation it will require least six
years or possibly seven or eight to
complete the work.
The bonds will fall due in install
ments each year covering a period of
| twenty years from the date of issue
and thus at least twenty-five years
will be used in making payments of
| them.
| Since the total issue will not exceed
5 per cent of the assessed valuation
and. be repaid in about % yearly
installments the tax each year to pay
the principal will not exceed one-fifth
| of one per cent on each tax payers
| assessed valuation.
1t is further believed that the in
crease in taxable fealth of the County
will be such that tax at the same
| rate on such increase will nearly if
not entirely equal the interest charge
to be paid on the bonds after the first
year or two. There will also be avail
able both federal and state aid for the
same purpose
What tax payer whose assessed val
uation equals $4,000, for example,
would not gladly pay twenty dollars
per year for the advantage of having
the use of a system of concrete and
gravel roads proposed.
And what tax payer of greater or
less assessed valuation would not feel
himself individually benefited in at
least the amount of the tax which
would fall due TO him.
From the Standpoint
OF the farmer The farmers are
the people who will be most bene-
fitted by the use of concrete and good
gravel roads because they are the ones
who will have occasion more than any
one else to haul heavy loads over them
In hauling produce to market and
lumber and other accessories from
town to the farm, the farmer, most of
all needs a smooth, solid road, which
will be in fit condition to use all the
year around.
II these concrete and gravel roads
enable a farmer to haul double the
amount in weight at single load, as
it many times will, thus cutting out
half the number of trips required, it
seems that the financial advantage
thus obtained will quickly equal the
farmers additional tax to pay for the
road, in time, labor and wear and
tear on vehicles and condition of the
horses, saved.
Sit down and figure out for yourself
approximately what you will have to
pay annually to make the County the
possessor OF this fine system of con-
crete and gravel roads and then try
TO inquire out how much the roads will
save you in the cost of your hauling
and it seems likely that the latter will
fully balance the former.
Next the concrete road is always the
same. No matter how wet the wealth
er may be; no matter whether the
frost is just coming or going, the con-
crete road is never rutted or mired,
but always the same.
Can Travel In Wet Weather
In wet weather when work can not
proceed in the fields and in the worst
season for the roads, the spring time.
the farmer can go to town for his
marketing and other business as read
lily as at any other time over the
concrete road, and thus leave for his
Iarm work all the days which because
OF good weather are best fitted for it.
with an auto and solid road to travel
on at all times he dtweller on the
Iarm can participate in the town life
on at all times the dweller on the
oWellers In town. The boys and girls
VIII De more contented on the farm
because 1t will mean more social life
ana more good times for them with
easier access now and then to a dav
IN the town or village.
And then the dust will be largely
abolished. What traveller in recent
years has not wished for a way to be
renewed OF the clouds of dust which
rise from the road and what man
whose home stands by a well trav-
| eled road has not wished to move away
| back where the dust will not reach
them The concrete road will have no
aust on 1t to rise. The crons alone
the roadside will not be dust laden
and ruined, that too. will mean mnch
money saved.
experience has proven that the road
neat pest 10 the concrete road is the
sldsel road In order to keep it in
soou shape however, patrolman
must De kept constantly dragging and
at an expense of about 500
a mile annually. If it is neglected II
soon goes to destruction. 1t cannot he
depended on to remain smooth and
passable in the worst seasons. A CON
crete road requires very little cost of
up-keep. is always the same and ey-
perlence indicates that so wears is a
very low estimate of the time II viii
serve Its purpose If properly CON
s'ructed it is fair to expect that tbav
VIII last much longer.
Not Practical