Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1906 — THE STONE ROAD PROPOSITION. [ARTICLE]

THE STONE ROAD PROPOSITION.

The White circuit court convenes at Monticello next Monday. It remains to be seen what will be done about the McCoy criminal cases again.

The nomination of judge Rabb of the Benton-Warren circuit will create a vacancy there, but it is not likely there will be any dearth of candidates. Lawyer Isham of Fowler is a candidate for the nomination

Printers’ type has advanced in price 10 per cent. The printer gets the benefit of the trusts on all sides. —Oxford Tribune.

And yet The Tribune, in common with other republican editors, will continue to shout for the g. o. p., and trust robbery.

And now Roosevelt has declared for an income or inheritance tax! And Congressman Crumpacker of onr congressional district, in an interview regarding the matter, said:

"I endorse every word he said. I have been thinking that way myself in my district for some time.’’

Strange how long it takes a progressive democratic idea to penetrate the brain of our repub lioan statesmen.

Next Saturday, April 28, is the date set for the special election to vote on the proposition for building the several miles of stone roads in Marion township and stone streets in Reusselaer, as petitioned for by two hundred representative taxpayers of the city and township. The Democrat has always advocated what it has believed was the greatest good to the greatest number, and it expects to continue so to do. In this matter, however, it must confess it is hardly prepared to say what is best. Various arguments have been advanced both for and against the proposition, and all have force.

The logical argument against the voting of the tax may be summoned up in a few words: Our regular local taxes are already very high; the Iroquois ditch tax is now to be added to this, and if we vote another hundred thousand dollars it will add greatly to the already heavy burden and become so excessive that it will in* jure our city instead of benefiting it, for the tax will be too heavy for many people to stand, especially those of small means who are endeavoring to pay fpr homes here. On the other band, the proposed improvement can probably be

made now cheaper than ever again, by reason of ntilizing the rook taken from the river bed, and the sooner these streets and roads are improved just that muoh sooner do the people get the benefit of them. Besides, unless this rock is removed from the banks after it is thrown out it will become the hiding place for vermin and will be an eyesore to the city until some disposition is made of it. The Democrat believes in public improvements, but it believes these improvements should be made gradually, so as not to become a burden on the people. It is particularly partial to good streets and good roads, and thinks that no one improvement contributes more to the general welfare of the public than good roads. Give us good rock roads leading out of Rensselaer in every direction and one need not worry about Rensselaer’s future or its ability to hold its own and to add to its reputation as a trade center. A good town, a business town, a town whose merchants draw trade from a large scope of country by reason to a great extent of the ability of the people to reach it over good roads, adds to the value of every piece of property therein and to every foot of land adjacent to the town, and the farmer who votes to help his home town —as his home town votes to help him —in the way of improved streets and highways, seldom if ever has cause to regret such action. The proposition is now up to the voters, and whatever the result of their action may be The Democrat hopes that it will be for the best interests of the people as a whole.