Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-09-30
The Roads Bond Question

Editor Reg;ster-A so-called Cond
Roads Association. backed mostly sv
road material firms, also by many with
GOOD intentions and politicians with
axes 10 grind and visions of Jobs 70
distribute, is flooding the State with
literature advocating the bond issue NJ
MY million dollars for building roads
under State auspices.
II is high time for the tax-payinp
cihzens OF the State to "pause. look
and listen" We now have A debt NJ
thirteen and a-half million dollars On
account OF Virginia debt settlement
AIDING this proposed issue would
make a staggering debt of about sin,y-
hVe millions. This county's proportion
would be million. Would this coun-
y vote for a million bond issue ?
Most assuredly not. A State issue
would mean the same oblig alton and
would be first lien on ali real es-
tate and irremovable corporations in
the State. ="
The topography Of West Virginia is
SuSn that no direct highway could be
Quilt across the State in cine, direc-
ton: 1t is proposed to link 10 the
county seats. This would call for
tunnels in some instances. To con-
meet Berkeley Springs with Romnev,
the best route would lead through
another State.
The plan Of comparison with neigh
boring States is out of the question.
We have no large cities to tax and
use money in counties. We have two
cities only Of fifty thousand and prob
ably a dozen over ten thousand.
Many county seats have only a few
hundred and counties a few thousand,
scattered over large barren territory,
not MT for agricultural purposes, and
taxable values can not be raised.
The northern portion of the State,
also the most populous and pros
porous, is already connected with the
Maryland and Pennsylvania highway,
giving much more economical and
direct route east and west than West
virginia could ever build. The
southern and central portions of the
State could not be easily connected
with other portions, and the portions
OF Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia ad-
joining are just as impossible.
Some years ago we were promised
a cessation of State taxes, but, it
has been growing by leaps and bounds
and many corporations are leaving the
State. The ratification of this proposed
issue would cause many more to leave,
thus increasing the burden on those
doing business here. A heavier tax
on public utility corporations would be
paid by consumers, as our laws as
sure them a standard return.
The less populous counties have a
representation in the Legislature be-
yond their taxable basis and rppula-
ton and could easily control the ex.-
penditures. The counties with roads
already built, or able to build their
own, would contribute largely to those
who could not. Our county and
Berkeley could build roads for one
third the cost in interior counties.
No power of recall exists, and such a
juggernut once started would crush
the State financially and finally leave an
uncompleted and disconnected system
of no value.
The question of good roads is a vital
one, and all good citizens should aid
and speed their building; but the
county should be the unit. The tax
payers can see how their money is be-
ing spent and are in touch with their
elected representatives, the county
commissioners, and not have their
money spent hundred miles away.
The writer hopes that our people
will vote heavily against ratification.
S. ]. HODGES.