Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-04-20
1rovvD Subscription OF Four Hundred Thousand
- Dollars.


ons that we presume, is certain to come before the
ne Of the town for their consideration and decision
at an earlv dsy. Indeed this felt to be so
since the passage of the bill charerng the Road, and
Of the act giving the Commissioners of town power.
under certain circumstances, to subscribe for such
works We notice, from the reported proceedings OF
the last meeting of the Board of Commissioners OF
town, that the Commissioners of the Wilmington,
Charlotte and Rutherford R. R. Co. have pettoned
for the opening of polls to decide upon town sub
scription of four hundred thousand dollars to the
stock of that work. being the extreme limit of sub
scription allowed to be made to any one work.
We eed hardly remark that our columns are open
for all fairly written communications upon this sub
ject, pro and In matter of so much Importance
too full and free an expression of public opinion can
not be elected. But, in thus opening our columns
we do not feel that we have discharged all our duty
as public Journalists In assuming that position, we
feel that we have assumed with it certain responsible
tiles and certain duties which we cannot fairly evade
neglect. Among these responsibilities and duties
is the expression of such opinions upon matters OF
public interest as we may deem conducive to talr
understanding of any question, and of It's decision IN
the manner most accordant with justice, and condn-
Give to the general prosperity.
In this matter we are to look, first at the advan-
tages to be secured and the burdens to be imposed
and second at the distribution of these burdens and
advantages among the persons composing this COM
munity the last being quite essential consIdera
ton as the fl Now there be question about
the great prospective advantage to the trade OF Inc
town likely 10 arise from the completion OF sucn
work This is undoubted and conceded, and has been
enforced too frequently to call for reconsideration
at the present time. The burdens of a town sub
scription are equally evident in permanent indebt-
edness and taxation say nothing OF the
tendency which all public assumption Of the field Of
private Enterprise has to relax the exertions of the
latter, making individuals much inclined to call
upon Hercules, and less disposed to put their own
shoulders to the wheel. Now suppose four hundred
thousand dollars worth OF bonds sold, and twenty
four thousand dollars yearly tax imposed to pay the
interest thereon, the danger would be- that the high
rates of rent rendered necessary, would impose bur-
dens upon business and residence here sufficient to
drive away capital, which is not bound to any place.
and prevent the influx of population by rendering it
impossible for people of moderate means to live here
and this would operate for length of time before any
compromising advantages could be realized from the
Road orany dividends accrue to assist in bearing It's
burdens. Our town elections instead of being nfu.
enced simply by considerations pertaining to
local government would become mixed up with Rail-
road policy and Railroad appointments, and parties in
town be made to act upon the Road and parties on
the Road brought to bear up town.
AS to the burdens it is manifestly impossible that
they could be made to bear equally. No burdens can
be made so to bear. To the man of limited means,
with but house in which to live, and negro or two
to do the work of his family the taxation would be
all clear burden. His house would not accommodate
his family whit better, nor his negroes do his work
more industriously. The mechanic would have 10
pay higher rent and receive no higher wages The
professional man would find the cost of living enbanc
ed, for of course twentyfour thousand dollars of in
creased tax would be twenty-four thousand dollars
added to the cost of living here
These considerations we know, apply to all taxa
ton, and therefore, are by no means conclusive a.
galnst this. In truth all taxation is necessary evil
and in submitting TO it the ground that the good TO
be effected will overbaance that evil VIII the good
10 be derived from town subscription of four hun
dred thousand dollars overcome the evil of the in
creased taxation which it will render necessary This
is the question, and confess is one that we are
not prepared to answer in the affirmative It is toe
much. 1t would impose too heavy burdens It would
press TOO heavily upon men of moderate means anc
small property holders. 1t would defer the growth
otpopulatlon and, perhaps scare away CAPITAL which
breads excessive taxation. All these we think i
would do. We may be mistaken, but we do not tbinl
we are.
But we do not wish for moment to be understood
RI oocki0 H.
town made subscription of one hundred Thousand
dollars to the Wilmington and Manchester Road, tn
interest on which was paid by the Road until tina
WORK was completed. We favoured that subscrp
ton, even in opposition to many of our political anc
party friends. We favour subscription to the Wi
mngton Charlotte and Rutherford R. R. as liberia
as that to The Manchester Road, nay, more libers
lnasmuch as we presume interest will be guarar
ted on the bonds which may be issued in this latte
case. Nay we go farher-we 90 for a greater ;
mount We feel the necessity of the case and vel
to it, We would even go as high as one hur
dred and fifty thousand dollars, but not four hu,
dred thousand, nor anything like it. The excessiy
cost of living here, now, is the great back set of II
place. 1t cnppes it all round 1t is far higher thu
at any other point in the State This would
doubled against us by debt of four hundred bousar
dollars.
But there is one difficulty in the way which v
would like removed. The grant of power to NAL
this subscription evidently comes under the head
Private Acts" and we believe that the law reouir
that thirty days notice shall be given of intention
apply for the passage of all such acts Perbaps an
notice was given here, but we confess to our ion
rance on that score, and every person whom we me
80 llxyo Of 60, IL TT
was It's passage We ask for information, for Il
aoRfh o hot oF 4