The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-04-08

some time. They have asked this news
paper to place the matter before tbs
citizens of the county in order that the
citizens may give an expression o.
opinion In regard to the proposition.
| Here is what can be done If the tax
payers are willing
| First it should be said that the new
bridge can be built without any in
crease in taxation
Forest Service Offer
An offer has been made to the coun-
| ty by the forest service that il the
county will furnish the steel for a
bridge at Warland, the forest service
will provide the necessary cement, la
Dor and equipment; in other words, the
forest service will build the bridge.
The plans are for a bridge across the
Kootenai short distance above the
present ferry. The bridge would be Is
feet wide, of steel and concrete, with a
cement deck
1t is estimated that the steel would
cost the county $4,000. Bonds would
have to be issued for that sum Of
money. How can that be done without
increasing the tax rate? Here is the
answer, as stated by the county COM
missioners.
A $4,000 bond issue at per cent in
terest per year 1.-THE rate borne by court
house bonds) would require $1,000 to
meet interest charges each year. Pay
able in 20 years would require the
setting aside of $1,000 each year into
a sinking fund. That would mean a
total of $500 per year to pay for the
bridge
The total taxable valuation of all
property in the county is somewhat
more than s4,50O,OOO. The present
bridge and ferry levy is mills. The
commissioners say that / mill could be
taken from this mill levy and would
more than pay for the new bridge. In
other words, a mill levy against four
and a half million dollars would bring
in $4,000 year, which is more than
would be required to retire the bridge
bonds.
There is another angle to this propo-
sition.
The new bridge would eventually do
away with two ferries-one ate War
land and one at Ural. The last annual
report of the county clerk shows that
the county expended S2,32l96 in the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, for
salaries, wages. maintenance and OPP
Grafton of ferries. This is low figure
as there are years when that expendi-
ture will run higher-when it is neces-
sary to build new ferries or to spend
considerable in repairs Thus with the
discarding of the ferries, there would
be a saving of from $1,000 to $500 a
year to the county.
1t can easily be seen when one studies
these figures, that the new bridge could
be built without increasing the tax
levy whatever. And after the bridge
was paid for there would be ma
terial saving to the county.
The commissioners state that If the
taxpayers will agree to the building
of the bridge, the road between Ural
and Warland on the east side of the
river would be improved so as to give
settlers in that district access to the
bridge. The Ural ferry might be con-
tinued until such time as it became
necessary to build a new ferry boat.
The new bridge would give access tc
a large body of timber that could be
hauled over the bridge to the highway
state the commissioners. They are con-
WINGED it would be good business in
line with the developing of the district
and its resources. But they are anxious
to know what the taxpayers think
about it and will be governed thereby
They ask the public for an expression
of opinion.