Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-17

Railroads ana T0xes.
We have not vet procured the data from the
Census Bureau at Washington. to enable us
TO establish in the way We design to do. the
position taken few days since with reference
to the policy. which Mr.. Go"de of Mecklen-
burg, and few other alarnlists of the House
Of Delegates would have tho Legislature a
dopt We then asserted that the energetic
prosecution of the leading lines Of Internal
Improvement. now in progress throughout the
State, was the most etfcctual way to diminish
the burthens of taxation; instead, us the alarm
lists contend. Of increasing them. This posi-
ton We hope 10 be able TO establish in a short
time Mranwhiic We would offer to our rca
ders the annexed s1,icle tuken from the Rail
road Journal OF the Sll instant.
Influence oE Railroads On The Vainc
GLANDS.
The experience of Massachusetts. New loik and
Ohio affords ahunis Illustrations Of the great nddi-
zion impaired value OF land and other real prom
crty by the construction of railroads. In Massrchi-
for example, railras have more than doubled th
value Of properly. exhibited in the Auditors reports
aud have reduced the average rate of taxation in the
State tian hall. The iacreate of value Is
confined 10 the immediate vicinity OF lines, though
ol greatest IN these lrirsi IL prunf of which
may tc the fact, that il 1919 tile vnlug ~! properly
in tuse rouatios Of Massachusetts through which
railway passes exhibited increase, compared with
,e value Of 1870 of 1876 GOO Goo lie ,rei Of rhr
indirect power ofsuch improvements. In Ohio. whore
the works OF more recent growth and where l.
complete system IL in operation, bonding
suits have been unoed from time time. less gen
era, perhaps in their operation but serving sufficiently
forcshadow the advantages to be difused over
the State In Gecreis auds tia in tho mari ct
in 1916, from CITY per acre. commanded
| in lS49-when the Cln;uuooEa railroad in opera
tion-irom 10 twenty-five dollars The same roud.
in it. extension from Clarar.oen to Nashye Tcrurs-
see passed through tie counties If Franklin, Bednd,
Rutherford and Davidson; and the Auditors books tor
these counties Sow advance ia the vHrc ef their
property OF 81 ,5J46s9. in year. So of TIE Mobile
| and Ohio railroad, lands that had been in the market
without purchaser for thirty years, have since the by
ing Of that road advanced three and IN many in
stances as high eight duilars per acre In South
Carolina. again. Col Gadsden, State Superintendent of
railroads. afErns THAT the immense ihcr, used value
| impaired TO lands is from 500 to 600 per acre
VIII Virginia statesmen never learn the sim
plest truth in modern political economy
that as the aggregate wealth of the people is
increased, the average rate oftaxation must be
| lessened?
Massachusetts has now about ore mile Of
Aeoh'ooo io' WI Dan uiiics VA teiTUOtyi yet.
the average rate Of taxation is reduced: so de.
clare her official documents
The same rate applied to Virginia would
give her more of railway, than is in actual
use in the United States.
Virginia has 800 miles of Railway in pro-
gress-Oho has fifteen hundred. Do we hear
any complaint from Ohio ofexcessive taxatonl
No. not word. On the contrary. her growth
in wealth and population in the las, 20 year,.
exceeds that ofany other agricultural country
in the world. But, it is folly TO waste words,
or space in our columns upon this subject
Everybody sees and acknowledges tho truth
Of what we maintain; except, it may bcibat
class Of politicians. who have heretofore kept
their places In the councils ofthe State, by ca.
tering to the prrjudces of the people. To
such we do not address either facts or argu.
ment: they are imPervious to ether.and deaf as
the dead to the calls Of patriotism. Groveling
selfshness has absorbed in them every gener-
GUS impulse OF mans nature. Let them alone
we say; the day Of retrbuti,e justice will
come. and then they will be driven by the
hisses and curses of the people. from the place,
they have so long disgraced and dishonored.