Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1906 — WHY 1 AM FOR STONE ROADS. [ARTICLE]

WHY 1 AM FOR STONE ROADS.

Mr. Editor • , In 1862 I came to Rensselaer as a teacher from a place in Ohio where flood water ran fast toward the sea. This town’s streets were then the care of a road supervisor. There were no sidewalks, and the surface was sublaid with quick-sand, A mill and tailrace fronted the river next the town. The dammed water bred clouds of gnats and mosquitoes to spread disease. I soon despaired of guiding young minds in bodies shaking with the ague and filled with quinine. In 1864 out went my shingle as a land broker. Swamp land was then a drag on the market, and I bought and kept buying. It was not many years until I was long on acres and short on money, to pay taxes. The apostles of good health, land and roads, had no ditch and gravel road laws, to appeal to for aid. Petition and subscriptions were resorted to for relief. I was selected on the begging committees to resurrect the town and remove the mill-dams. I made and collected the town’s first duplicate of ,$518.75, and the streets became more nearly passable.

The first ditch law was passed in 1867, and shortly before that toll turnpikes came into use. The element of private ownership of roads and speculative profit of the ditch promoters passed away in 1881. Alter’s mill-dam was removed in 1877 as the narrow gauge railroad came. In 1883 the Hopkins dam was removed and the site bought. The river-bed was reserved as a gift to any ditch project that would cut out the rock ledge. It was not until 1905 that the Iroquois ditch called for the redemption of the subscribers’ pledge of 1883. Oti April 2, 1906, the Iroquois ditch (now in course of construction) offered the quarried material to the stone road system at three cents per cubic yard. Those having the right of suffrage are to vote on April 28, 1906, whether such offer shall be accepted. The viewers regarded the offer as worth to the road system $39,000, for they lowered the estimate from $130,000 to $91,000 by reason of said offer. It is up to each voter to say “yes” or “no” to the proffered aid. The offer, if rejected, will go to any person who will take away the quarried stone at the same price. As I begged for the money to buy the dam and dam site in 1883; as I pay more than anyone else toward making the ditch, and want it kept clear of obstruction; as I am a petitioner and expect to pay largely toward the construction of the stone road system and am therefore quite largely interested, I will state to your readers why I want all friends of the ditch, all friends of good streets and roads, and all my friends to vote “Yes” on Saturday: First—l voted for the system of roads under a similar law about ten years ago and owned no border land, bat the township made sixteen miles, which has been cared for by the county since, and I like the law. Second—Ever since 1883 I have longed for an occasion when the rock would be removed to promote better health and land, and said rock would be deposited on the streets and roads to promote the public convenience. That occasion is here and for the only time with our consent, will both projeots aid each other. United, both will benefit; divided, neither will be wbat it ought. Third —I am quite sure the bonds will now sell higher, and the work be bid off lower than ever again, and as a measure of economy I shall vote “Yes.” Fourth—As one whose land did not abnt on the system of 18,96, I voted for that, and as one who made a public traveled track, unfairly, under the abutment law, and one whose frontal way will reoeive bat a small per cent, of this tax, 1 will be oalled - upon to pay, I am for this system because I believe only a track for publio travel on every street and road should be made from moneys derived from a general tax, and I don’t want others to saffer under the abutment system as I did. Fif(h —I am convinced that 34 miles of stone streets and roads in my city and township is worth more than three per cent, of all taxable property, and the making of the system is a matter of good I investment for all tax-payers.

Sixth—None of ns who own the ditch want any of the blasted rock left within a stone’s throw of the new and costly channel. Seventh The traveled track should be longer and not wider. I am willing to make approaches for my own private use, and no public tax should be used for that purpose. Eighth—The issuance of bonds enables ue to anticipate collections and make the streets and roads at once for immediate enjoyment. We should not charge to this project the evils of others. We can get a fair letting and honest work. I shall be glad to spend three per cent, of my taxable wealth for good roads if a majority of the voters so indicate on April 28. I hope they will say “Yes.”

Taxable property is charged with the education of children, the care of the vicious and otherwise unfortunates, and we should welcome a road tax for the good of all.

It is the public good that controls my vote. The petitioners have said the public welfare will be subserved. lam a petitioner, and my ballot will be “Yes,” on April 28, if well enough to reach the polls. S. P. Thompson. April 20, 1906.