Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-08-03
For the Reporter,
To the Citizens Of Johnson county.

would not at this time trespass upon your
time or call your attention to anything might
saw, were it not from the conviction In my
mind that a question is now pending before
you, of more consequence and Of deeper inter-
est to your welfare, than any which has come
nm for your consideration since the county had
it's organization. allude to the simple pro.
position of voting for or against the county
subscription Of fifty thousand dollars to the
Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company,
which is submitted to you for your approval
or rejection. on the 9th day Of August next.
1t is a matter of no surprise. that objections
have been raised to this measure, drawn from
the fact that this question was fixed for de-
cision on the 9th instead Of the day of the gen
eral election, by persons unacquainted with
the circumstances under which that time was
appointed for the vote to be taken. But when
persons with full knowledge of the circum.
stances, make charges oftrickefy and collision
between certain citizens of Iowa City and the
County Judge in appointing day, but lit
tie removed from the lst Monday Of August i'm
order that the farming portion Of the n0onIe 8
the county might with less Convenience t6Ssssai
selves attend the election, it does really strike
me With little surprise, to say the least OF IT.
The people ofthis county are aware that county
subscriptions of stock would not be received by
the company proposing to construct the rail
road from Davenport to Iowa City, for the rea
son that the legality Of the measure was doubt
/ II Dat nc tharo then casp v,pndinQ in
the Supreme Court of Iowa. involving thi'
question, it was minated that if that cour'
decided that species Of stock to be legal, the
company would receive the subscription from
the county and all would be right. 1t became
necessary therefore to await the decision 81
the Supreme Court, in the premises. de
cision of the question was finally made on OF
about the 4th day Of July instant, that The
County Judge not only had the right under
the code to submit the question to a vote of ths
people, to take stock in railroads. but that Q
LAX to pay the interest and raise the means in
pursuance Of such vote, might be levied ano
collected.
The code requires in all such cases four weeks
notice by publication in newspaper publish
ed in the county if there be one, and thirty
days notice by posting written statement o
the proposition at the Court House door, OF thu
time and place Of holding such election. Nov
as the August election came off on the LIST da.
of that month. there was not sufficient time 10
the requisite notice to be given; and in as mucl
as it was DESTROYS on all hands to have tn
question tested at as early ada vas possible, j
was determined to Fl x the 9th as the most conve
nient time. believing that the people could gen
orally attend on that day as well as they coult
on any other, than regular election day,
A few words in relation to taxes and in or
der to see what truth, there is in the asser
ton that we will be bur,hened down with tax
es which will be increased upon us from yea
to year, as it is alleged by many who Oppose
this proposition bet US for few moments brinl
to our aid a few facts and figures. And un
eerlake to say that in three years from thi
: time. the rate Of taxes including what will b
required to pay the interest on the amour
subscribed to the two roads together, will b
less than the average rate of tax paid in thi
contuy for the two years Of 1851 & 1852.
For the year 1851. there We're levied for ordi
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