The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-05-25
For the Miners, Express,


Nh MEhKIrr My object in this commu-
nica,ion is to direct attention to what is called
the Dubuque and Pacfi: Railroad. Our County
Judge has made a proposition, or rather ordered
on election to take place on the first Monday in
June, to decide whether the people Of this coun-
ty will take stock to the amount Of two hundred
thousand dollars in said road. | not versed
in the law on this subject and therefore shall
say nothing about the legal right Of our honor
able Judge, to call such an election; if he has
this right, think it is a dangerous, or at least
troublesome one, or at least will become trouble
some to the people and particularly that portion,
that has to work hard for living Our county
Judge may if he pleases call an election every
week and wear the people out, until it may be
carried by default, or by few votes and mort
gage this county to a company OF, We know not
who, nor how this company is to be bound for
the faithful performance of their agreement. In
the first place, if we vote the go, 900 dol!ars,our
county issues that amount of bonds to the com.
pany, bearing 10 per cent interest per annum !;
if the Bonds should prove available at par in the
~
thousand dollars interest. If not, the probable
ity is, they will be disposed of to the highest bid
der, say at so, Is, 80 or 80 cents to the dollar !;
in that case we shall have to raise the interest
by direct tax on our property and then CONT 8
the tug of war. | wish to state the matter fairly
as understand it, The company processes to
refund this ten per cent when the road produces
dividends over and above the expenditures
You must recollect that The end Of this Road, is
some where on the Pacific and the interest OF
the company will be, to raise all the surplus
funds for its extension; the county being stock
holder, her portion of the dividend will be usec
for that purpose, consequently this generation
will pass away and probably thousands Bank
rupted before the burden Of Taxation will b.
lishtened. At all events this thing should b
) well considered before gone into. am oppos
ed for one to being made stock holder agans
my WILL or forced into it by vote Of the ma
e joTlty. fthe minority is not to be protected,
e propose that the people of this county take
$ vote for an equal division Of property at thi
= election for hold this proposition just as rea
t sonable as the other. Then we will know wha
n each man is worth and pay on equal tax and a
!, live harmoniously together.
Nr. Editor, l ali enemy TO nali Roads, c
$ any other improvements that are Of public util
ity, provided they are conducted as not
D, break down the majority, who are small prope
e ty holders. The moderate property holder
d generally taxed to the extent Of his mean
u while the heavy property holder and capitals
7, from what can learn, is not taxed one four'
e in proportion for this reason, am opposed
: doing more in the way of taxation.
e Then to protect the weak against the stron
is or in other words, the poor against the rich-ar
% the minority have rights whether rich or poor
If go against the tax. For, as stated above,
le there is no constitutional check, soon vote f
le division Of property might be the consequence
d and soon we might run into state of anarch
Il The Constitution Of our State forbids Il
- State from taking stock in any such concer
and the inference is as strong as holy writ, th
n the trainers never intended to leave powers
IN counties, that it withheld from the State.
g 1 hope the people Of this County will tai
- this thing into serious consideration, and on Il
u day of election, if they find it good, vote for
= if on the other hand, they do not understand
- vote against it, and put it down until they
= understand it. do not pretend to say that tho
, that are in such haste, have any but honorat
~ motives in the matter but still they tell some We
: Howery stories, which, if fully convinced we
" true, they would put the county to no trouble
ef take vote on the subject; for am satisfied III
Re some six or eight men here, could take i,
10 whole of the stock on their own credit
er CROCKET.