Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1906 — THE STONE ROAD SYSTEM. [ARTICLE]

THE STONE ROAD SYSTEM.

The stone road system, if voted, imposes an ad valorem tax on all the property, real and personal, in Marion township, including the city of Rensselaer, at its assessed value, for the specific purpose of raising money to make good the streets and roads described in the ticket to be placed before the voters on April 28,1906. You may study the project from a purely selfish standpoint to ascertain whether the improvement will in location and use pay you for the tax exaoted. The petitioners, viewers and board say the benefits exceed the costs. We should each also consider the matter as units of the community and determine whether the common good is not subserved. The public utility is asserted by the petitioners, viewers and board. Roads as a rule are made wholly by exactions from property or labor outside of cities and towns. Streets are as a rule made by cities and towns. In this project an union tax is proposed to be levied on the taxable values reported on each of two municipalities for the common good of the property and inhabitants of both. For the purpose of crossing Jordan, five road and street making municipalities were united. Here there are but two, Marion and Rensselaer, and we are so close as to seem like one. In building roads one of three kinds of tax is involved, to-wit, general property, abutting land or poll. Here it is proposed to levy a tax on all property and the abutting lands are not more neavily taxed than other property, real or personal. Let every abutter bear this in mind. There is no element of a poll tax either in money or labor connected with this project. Every voter without taxable property remember this. It will impose a burden on capital, and may every day laborer recollect this. Every voter without taxable capital should record himself in the affimative if he believes stone roads are of public benefit. This system asfcs only that he take time to vote. Every voter whose share of the cost is less than the value he will receive should also say “yes” to the proposition if he believes in good roads as a part of the public welfare. More than two hundred voters who are petitioners have seconded their opinion that the project is one of public utility and is worth more than it will cost. The viewers have reported, and the county board has adjudged that the work is of public utility, and will also be worth more than it will cost. This is some evidence, but your judgment is involved. You are as a voter, in the exercise of the ballot, to consider all the facts as you understand them, and approve or disapprove the system as a whole on one of said grounds or any ground. Your vote,if inthe affirmative, will show that in your opinion the public and private advantages will preponderate. If your vote is in the negative it will show that the disadvantages, in your opinion, outweigh the advantages. Good roads, if made at all, will come from taxation of some kind. They don’t grow like weeds, but must be cultivated like anything of value.

THIS LAW Was applied a few years ago and transferred to the care of the county nearly sixteen miles of the roads in Marion township. If this project is carried into effect near eighteen miles more will pass under control of the county. The regular township road tax can soon have the connecting roads and thus equalize the application of all the voted and levied road taxes.

This consideration is worthy of careful application by each of the several voters. As the taxable values in the city are much greater than outside townships and the country roads will receive more than half the voted road tax, a second advantage comes to the country over the city. On the other hand, every city shop, office, mart and home should wish customers, patrons and visitors to have easy access, dry shod, and thus the benefits are mutual. Good streets and roads are a very present need, and by quick building we have them for enjoyment before paying for them. The time for making the system is now opportune, for stone in abundance, ready quarried, near the center of the system, can be had

for less than fifty dollars per mile. Crushing and transportation added still leaves the material cheaper than ever before or after the present time. This project is one of grave importance, and not a voter should let the occasion pass without doing all he can to secure the construction of this system. Will you be a pusher or a knocker? The objections are not a few. The selfish bankers and those having thousands of personal property, subject to ad valorem tax will contend that roads and streets should be made and maintained by a poll tax or by the owners of abutting lands or lots. This system reaches for wealth rather than for the individual. The selfish who live along and travel upon the system voted some ten years ago, are unwilling that other roads and streets be built in the same way. The selfish who live along streets improved on the abutment plan insist on all roads and streets be made on that plan. No road has been so improved in Marion township, and hence no rural voter contends for the abutment plan. The selfish whose lots abut on the streets in this system object because the pavement does not cover the whole street from curb to curb. They refuse to give thanks for small favors. Those owning land and lots not reached by the system object on the ground of unfairness because all or none should be included.

The law limits taxation within four per cent of the taxable value, and some streets and roads must await a third, ad these have awaited a second system. Oue class of objectors say the estimate is too high, and they fear a pool of the contractors. Others say the estimate is too low, and that there will be no bids. Each voter should look to his neighbor’s church, school and market, and be glad that good roads are coming nearer as more are built.

This project is not tainted with partisanship, sectarianism nor any class of favoritism. The petition contains membere of all parties, churches and masses. The old settlers, like Nowels, Benjamin, Raudle and Phillips, want to smooth the way for their successors. The youngsters want to sweeten the buggy rides with their own and others’ sisters. We all want an attractive city and surrounding country. Let us all pull togother just now for better roads.

It was thought the election was set too late in the season, for our remembrance of mud is proverbally fickle and short. This is written on April 10, just eighteen days before the election, and nature has not yet paved all the wet places. The system contains near 34 miles of which near 19 are roads and near 15 streets. Yours for Good Roads. Rensselaer, Ind.