The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-03-13
For the Free Trader.


Mr. Elitor :-Allow me to reply to Mr..
South Side in relation to free bridge at OF
tawa. He proposes to tax the people in II
geographical townships. He is laboring I'M
der mistake in thinking to get so large a
territory to vote a tax on themselves for to
Sdiid bridge. We would inform Mr..
:outh Side that fifteen miles square Of terri
'oiy would be a large estimate to make,
Whicn would be IA, 600 acres, instead of
%'o'Hoo, winch will reduce the amount of
money at his estimate sl5,24S. But | do
not believe single town would yotp in fa
vor OF the tax. lie suggests 10 cts ner
acre. | will show that it is characteristic of
the man. His lands will sell for 900 ner
acre as readily az a large portion of the
lands in said territory will sell tor $40 per
acre. But he wants to tax the lands twenty
miles from market as high as the lands ai
joining the city OF Ottawa. lie says that the
spectators may not be willing to be taxed,
but we can vote for them. That has always
been his practice to get his neighbors to do
a good work and have the arrangement such
that he can always dodge. He recommends
the issue Of bonds by the towns to raise the
money. Does South Side remember the fate
Of the bonds Of the towns for building the
present bridge? They would not sell for
any price. The stockholders were compel
led to advance the money out Of their own
pockets. What would South Side say to
that, to have to shoulder the bonds to raise
the money South Side is afraid of tax
himself, which can be easily shown. But
ne is willing to tax others. Has he paid
taxes for public Improvement? The answer
is, no.
Not long since he was called on to pay a
small amount, which be refused. The COL
lector, in order to get the small amount, had
the diSpleasure of asking him to turn out
some property TO sell, to raise the money.
Now, reader, what do yen suppose he turn
ed out? Il was some old chairs an old bed
stead, and an old table, which the unfortu-
nate collector gould not get a bid on, SO that
he came out minus Mr. South Side has
been in the habit Of casing you before. He
was very much engaged in getting the pro-
jcct Of free company boat to ferry across
tie river at Ottawa some years ago. lie al
so gave good encouragement and approved
0! the plan Of the present stock company,
but when he was called on to subscribe he
apolCgiZed by saying that his financial az
fairs were such that he could not, without
embarrassing himself, but was sorry, and
hoped the project would be successful. And
Wttn Inc damage occurred 10 i.c Dfluse
last spring, he came forward to take $500
stock, in order that lie might have = free
pass across the bridge, but instead Of pay
ing ding TO stipulation, he loaned his
money out, IS am informed, at 2 per cent.
= month for s,rne time after it was due, and
as he paid nothing, the directors being
prompt men, declared his subscription for
fcitod Mr.. South Side was prominent adj
wiser in recommending the plan Of the Mac
road. but after he had faithfully
promised that be would 90 o liberal part, he
has not paid dollar, and to avoid paying
toll he opened 4 road through his farm,
which led from 20 to 80 teams per day, 70.
some days, around the toll gate.
Tax payers, will you take South Side for
your guide; the man who encourages every ,
public enterprise, and then is the first man !
to desert the undertaking; the man who will |
encourage his neighbors to invest &45, 900,
which has only yielded a dividend OF ] ! per
,ent TO the stockholders, and that amount
liable 70 be swept away every year by the
foods, and then in less than twelve months
.fter be had enGeayored to become one Of
he company. he turned traitor to the int
.e-ts CT his follow men: He has reason TO .
al back On his christian graces. Coald you
rust Judas OF - Arnold any sooner than
uch nan?
If Nj. South side would come out Ike
conscientious man and buy out the present
ridge, there is not a stakeholder but that
gou,d ell out at large sacrifice.
UCyAEITY