The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-07-15
OUR CORPORATION.

have been induced to make this
communication from having just paid
my Corporation taxes for the present
year, and which are high enough to
keep our town in excellent condition.
| find the late rains have overlooked
the bitches on the sides Of the streets,
and running over the gravel across
the streets. washing it away at a ru-
nous rate. This is common in many
places. The truth is, the streets are
awluIIy neglected, and understand
that the taxes pad for these purposes
have been applied to the payment of
the rail road tax. Now, this is all
very wrong. ! say that the rail road
tax should be collected and paid over
and the corporation taxes applied to
their appropriate purposes. | have
been compelled to pay both corpora
ton and rail road tax, and feel that
and all others who have paid their
taxes, have been wrsngcd by this
wrongful application Of our money by
the powers that rule IN our corpora
ton. in another year, or less time,
we will be required to pay a heavy
tax to repair the ruin Of the streets
caused by this neglect. The tax col
Iector tells me that it has been deter
mined to pay the rail road tax out OF
the first monies collected. say the
corporate authorities have no such
power given them, and if they do this.
they ASSUME control of the peoples
money that is not allowed them by
law. Some of the finest streets in
town, and those most used, are suffer.
ing from this neglect. We pay taxes
for special purposes, and nobody has
any right to make II different applica-
ton OF the money than that for which
it is paid, This policy presumes an
Indulgence towards a portion OF tax
layers by not forcing them to pay up.
Let those who so readily voted Tor
This Railroad tax now rs readily pay
for it. The truth is, our town must
not be neglected, for it takes a heav-
ier interest to pay tor little neglect
to repair streets, &c, than almost any
thing else. Money is worth 6per cent
per annum, while one hundred per
cent will hardly pay for the neglect Of
keeping the streets in order. Where
one dollar now would repair street,
if let alone six months it will require
five dollars. We have just cause for
complaint when we know that our
taxes now alrcad y high, must, under
The present system OF economy, be
increased to an inca|culabie extent in
another year. 1t is like rent in an
old garmtnt--"a stitch in time saves
nine We hope slhe authorities will
look to the thing and change their
policy.
If this rail road, now the object of
our idola'ry, is to demand of US daily
sacrifices in this way. fear the costly
offerings will prove to be more ex-
pcnsivc to Us than its benefits can
coun;erbalancc. Like the heather
gods, Iheir worship requires too much
magn!iccnce. We cannot expect the
road to benefit us much if we in all
things and on all occasions must make
concessions to it. 1t is well to be rca.
Sonably liberal in all public entcrpri-
scs, bat to make them beneficial we
must exercise due proportion Of self,
preservation. Rail roads soon get
able to take care of themselves and
then they most strictly adhere to ii
selfish policy. Let US begin now and
take due care Of ourselves. If there
ever was town that needed removal
ton it is Winchester, and the time is
coming soon when every man who
owns real estate in the place should
improve it, especially on the public
square. The private property, no
less than the public streets, needs re-
pairing. Let us see general spirit
Of improvement pervade our town.
Nothing will stimulate activity more
and speak more to the strangers in our
foy.or I'AX DANED