The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-05-07
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The jackson Railroad.

The principle avowed by Mr.. Robb and APP
proved by the Railroad Convention, is no novelty
| in this State. Every street in the city of New
Orleans has been opened and paved in obedience
| with it. When the city authorities determine the
time to have come when streets shall be opened
| through what now constitutes the rural portion,
| they will be made; the owners of the property
will pay fair proportion of the expense the as
| sessment, however, will not be made by them nor
will they be consulted to the propriety of making
the avenue. Is not this in principle exactly what
is advocated in regard to the railroad? The prop
erty to be benefited should in part contribute.
Private subscription will be resorted to-a general
taxation, if you choose, will supply portion. But
| the property actually enhanced in value will be
| assessed. Let us see how unjust is any other
rule: A tract of land lies in the suburbs of the
city. 1t is of but little value itsremoteness from
business deprives it of the value usually attaching
to city lots. But railroad, extending for hum
dreds of miles into the interior, terminates at this
neglected and obscure lot. Its value is at once
enhanced thousand fold Instead of being sold
by the acre, it is now measured by the foot and
inch. Property worth few hundreds goes up to
more thousands. And shall the owner pay moth
ing to the great work which thus pours wealth into
",
berry, is in the rule which thus would allow one
man to enrich himself at the expense of the enter
PRISE the risk and the money Of his neighbor. He is
the man who would reap where he has not sown,
and gather where he has not planted.
There is one forced contribution which has been
in full operation for nearly fifty years, the Levee
System of Louisiana. In some Parishes, the
Levees are kept up by tax on all the lands in
nth hu
In the last instance, it might well be urged, that
1t was hardship; for, as the front lands are The
highest, it would seem unjust to require the owners
to erect barriers which benefit the back propreiors
more. Yet the Supreme Court has held that such
an assessment is legal, and not affected by the
clause in the act admitting Louisiana into the
Union: "That each aud every tract of land, sold
by Congress, shall be, and remain, exempt from
any tax laid under the authority Of the State Of
Louisiana, either for State, County, Township,
Parish, or any other purpose whatever, for the
term of five years from and after the respective
days of the sales thereof"
Again, let US see whether Society does not i'm
pose other onerous burdens. The tax for Public
Education is levied, not according 10 the number
OF children the taxpayer sends TO school, but it
Is rated In proportion to his property. Thus the
law exacts forced contribution from the one, to
educate the children of another. Is not this as
mncn stealing as TO take mans property to build
ra,lroadss You force man to pay for building
% hoase, though he has child to be educated
,"aTy ~. io.ce MN to give money to build rail
road, more especially when il is admitted thai il
VII, add vastly to the value of his property
we nave not the statements before ms IN sboxv
now much property is enhanced by railroads Rn,
without entering into minute calculations il is sais
to assert that the appreciation will greatly e,cs.d
the assessment. sAsee"