The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1920-08-12
Mt. Lebanon, Aug. 6, 1920.


head.-IditOr.
Mt. Lebanon, Aug. 6, 1920.
Editor Bienville Democrat: | have been
greatly interested in the articles in the
Democrat concerning the Good Roads
situation in our parish. look at the
matter in this way. We have an i'll
telligent citizenship and there are some
things we know.
We know that the heaviest tax paid
| by the American people is the Mud
Tax" Such a tax paid in the loss of
! time, short hauls, horse flesh, feed, re-
pairs, wages, etc, would build each
year, five parallel roads from the
Pacific to the Atlantic and five from
Canada to the Gulf at al average cost
of eight thousand dollars to the mile.
Some tax. You don't believe it! Fig
ure awhile.
Next, we want good roads. The
average tax payer is not making a
single argument, in fact he knows of
none to make, against good roads, but
he knows that every argument, is for
good roads, comfort, increased values,
saving Of time, etc.
Another thing we know. That when
the matter was presented to the tax
payers that it did not take d canvass.
There was so little opposition, that not
"a single speaker made an itinerary Of
the parish, and the vote for Special
: Road Tax was about as nearly
unanimous as any thing left to vote
could be.
We know, or we think we know, that
our bonds were SOld and this writer
E has it, that not only were the bonds
D sold, but good big bonus was paid
FOR them.
Now, there are SON things we want
+ to know. Why was nL. the State High
+ way Commission formally notified OF
u said vote for, and sale of bonds and
G the cooperation of this State Organiza
l. ton, at least solicited?
v Why was the parish alone, taxed fol
surveying the roads, when the STATE
IS would have done it?
e Why is not State and Federal ai(
) being sought at present?
Why were the funds secured from
>. sale of bonds loaned in separate banks
l. without interest, when many bank
+ would have been glad to pay interes
}. on the money?
7 Why are we now called upon TO
, new levies of taxes to pay the intereS
J. for two years on these bonds when til
t. money for the sale of bonds ought t
v be drawing at least four per cent in
!, terest, to at least help pay the bon
=. interest?
!. Is this money, which must be "Somt
T. where" paying Bienville parish any il
terest? If not, why not?
Who negotiated the deals for the dt
post and keeping of this fund and uI
lie on what terms?
Why was no move made to do an
W road building this summer?
/. Why are we compelled to fac
another writer and spring with not
single mile Of road, with bonds sOlt
~ and tens of thousands of dollars a.
Sc sessed as taxes on bonds and a millio
k dollars lying idle?
al Why not build good deep surfaced
ID well graded, gravel roads, in prorat
mileage on most useful pieces of rOa
in each ward, as far as the money wi
80, showing us what our money will
H. and then when we have seen, I'VE wi
* vote another million if necessary.
Why not, first build for the citizeI
tax payer, farmer the lumberma
etc, and then parallel the V. s. & P.
Il. for the tourist and the pleasul
seeking automobilist instead of di
cussing highway across the paris
=, whose benefits to the masses of Il
nd people Of the parish would indeed be
m negligible quantity.
ny Brother citizen and tax payer.
=, :, move you that We have a get togeth,
meeting, all day, a good barber
thrown in, and devise ways and meal
of getting answers to these and MAJ
other questions just as pertinent.
The humblest Tax payer of this pa
Il ish has right to ask; to demand
know Sincnrplv