Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-03-18
CINCINNATI CORRESPONDENCE;

ClNClNNaIl CUHRE6fUNDENCE,
Extract Of Letter to the Editor. dated
CINCINNATI TI,, March y 10, 1854,
Dear Sir,- ,g,f ia ara m
The Bank tax law, which was so
stoutly resisted liz its execution by the bank
ers and brokers in this city, and indeed all
over the State, was finally decided by the
Supreme Court of the State lobe constitu-
lional. MIR. Thomas, the Treasurer Of this
County, called upon the banking houses here
not long ago, and collected the taxes. Some
of them had pretty heavy bills to-" foot up"
with the cash, viz: " '.' w.
Messrs. Ellis & S,urgls, s2l,6d6 oo
I" It's. Goodman s Co. 1898 90
I" 'Groesbeck & Co. a 1887 90
l. ia sc. &c. rs.r, troud.
/ No wonder they "squirmed" little, or
rather good deal! Great dissatisfaction
has been expressed at the decision Of the
Supreme Court, yet it has been submittedto,
while an,eifort, at the same lime, has been
made in the Legislature to have the law re-
pealed, without success. II very seriously
affects the commercial interests Of this great
City; for its effect is to drive money away
from market, where, even with supply,
ii commands from ten to twenty.lour per
cen, a year according to the demand. NJ,
The present enormous rates Of house rents
has attracted the attention Of the Press of
this city. Any thing like decent house
commands $500 per annum, the tenant pay
ing besides, gas, water and State taxes
What with the high price Of all the neces.
saries Of life. fuel, &C., the poor are compel
led to huddle together in tenements by the
dozen families, and filth, and squalor, and
wretchedness and disease are the dire re.
suits. 1t is suggested TO adopt the European
plan, as in New York, Of building extensive
dwelling. houses. five or six stories high, each
story amply furnished with accommodations
for small families, and the rent regulated by
the height of the story. In Paris, it is said,
1t is common 10 find Marquis or Count oc-
cupying the lower floor, while laborer
concocts his soup on the upper floor Of the
same edifice. This system will sooner or
later have 10 be adopted in all large cities !:
aud although it has been suggested that there
is ample room TO extend the limits Of this
city, proper, TO the East and West, (and
some such project has been fitting through
the brains Of some of our citizens, by fill.
ing up the ravine Of Deer Creek, on the
East, and building levee by Mill Creek, to
prevent oyeraows on the West, and so fur
nish larger territory for dwellings, still,
without something Of the sort suggested a,
bove, those unable to pay the modern rents
will have to stay where they are. Indeed,
none but those who have incomes of'up'
wards Of $1,000, can afford TO live genteellyi
and even then the largest portion Of limit
ed income is absorbed in rent. Person:
thus situated do not live as comfortably as
the large majority Of the citizens oil YOU
beautiful town. ....
While the comparatively poor have thel'
difficulties to encounter, the nabobs --thost
who live in their own costly mansions, o
can afford 10 pay exorbilantrents-are wag
ging along swimminsly. The extravaganza
Of New York-and il is almost fabulous
closely copied here, in furniture, equipages
high living, dress, &c, A young pork mer
chant sports, in his shirt bosom, a who'll
drove Of fine porksw, in the shape OF dia
mond breast.pin, that cost $500; and
often see on Fourth.slreet, Of fine alter
noon, ladies wearing moderate sized farm
in the shape Of splendid costume; AM
any quantity Of broadclo'h, leather aud mo
lasses, may be seen peeping out with arIsto
cratic masnifcence, in the costly carpets
chandeliers. sofas, aid bijmltsris Of ouV M
ban parlcrs,