Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27
DESMOlNES.
Fur the Journal.
Bridge Tax,

Nix. EDITOR IL have noticed in your pa.
per for some few weeks past proclamation
from Edward Ii. Thayer, County Judge, to
tho effect that proposition will be submit
ted to the qualified voters of this county, on
the LIST Monday in April next, to ascertain
whether or not they approve Of the project
Of building bridge across Red Cedar River
at or near the point where the Cedar river
suspension bridge wau located, provided the
cost Of the same shall not exceed $4,000,
and that a tax be levied for the purpose. of
defraying the coat Of the same, not to exceed
four mills on the dollar on the county valu.,
alton. The outlay Of so large an amount of
money in any one project by single county
at any time should bs q matter Of grave
consideration by the sovereign people, and
a question upon which every man should
vote unders'andingly. The first question
that every voter ehould ask himself, befose
voting for the foregoing proposition, is this
Does the county feel able and is che willing
to sui NIT to tax Of that amount in addition
to the ordinary revenue for the year 1859
One thing must be borne In mind-that the
tax of this year will be levied upon the high
valuation of property as returned by the
assessor for the year 1857. This under
stand to be in accordance with the revenue
law, with the exception of personal property.
That assessment was made when wheat was
worth 81 IS per bushel, and all other pro-
ducts Of the farm in proportion. Everything
else was moving along, as it were, under the
high pressure system, and all men felt as
though they were making money, and would
about as soon pay high tax as low one.
I will venture the assertion that, If an as
sessment of the real estate Of this county was
made to-day, it would not exceed at the very
outside so per cent. of the present valuation,
aud perhaps not over 50. Now, this bridge
tax, instead of being mill tax, would be
a 7 or mill tax upon fair valuation of
property. The entire tax of last year
amounted to l-2 mills upon the dollar.
Now, do we feel able and willing to very
nearly double that tax for the purpose of
building the aforesaid bridge. The bridging
of such stream as the Cedar is no small
matter, and when it is done, the bridge
should be built in the proper place and in a
proper manner, SO that its being permar ent
structure should be question beyond all
70 IL tIo nix
must be Of stole; they must be heavy enough
to stand the running ice, g., in our spring
floods, and cannot be much less than the
piers in the bridges of the NJ. & NJ. Railroad
across the same stream those piers, inc'u
ding pillars, rip-rapping, &C., cost the COM
pany 81 900 each. This bridge would re-
quire ut least piers and 2 abutments, which
done in u proper mahDer would cost in Che
neiyhborhood Of $4,000, saying nothing
about the superstructure. From the best
information can get upon this subject, a
permanent and substantial brid e across said
river would cost at least $50 600, the amount
of tho entire revenue Of this county Of the
last year. Now, w,:at portion Of our county
would be benefited by bridge ut this point,
admitting we felt able to build one? In my
opinion but very small fraction, and that
rather sparsely populated. The friends Of
this project say it is of vast importance to
the city Of Muscatine to vote for this meas
ure- that our growth and prosperity as a
city depend upon it, &c. Now, sir, am a
resident of the city-so closely identified with
her interests that her general advancement is
my individual gain-yet l cannot, more es-
pecial!y at this time. believe that it is the
interest either of the people Of the city or
county to vote for this loan. When We take
into consideration the present prost1 re con.
dition of the finances of the whole ctnntry,
with the daily evidence before Us that it will
require perhaps several years to regain our
former position, it DIES appear to me that no
rejecting man will at this time vote for any
proposition involving such an expenditure.
A CITIZEN.