Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-03
Missouri LEGISLATURE.

An adjourned meeting OF the Legislature
of Missouri commenced last Monday. The
message OF Gov. STEWART is brief business
paper, devoted exclusively to State affairs.
The ST. Louis Ntps furnishes us a synOp-
sis of it. The Governor is decidedly in favor
of granting further aid to railroads, being
supported in the recommendation by the ex-
pressed desire for the completion of the
roads observed during his visits within the
last few months in various parts of the
State
In reply to the objection that additional
grants of aid to the Railroads may lead to
high taxation, the Governor expatiates on
the increased value of property TO raise the
taxes from-an increase for which the peo-
pie will be indebted entirely to the Roads.
He argues that the facilities for transporting
produce to market, and the saving of time
in going and returning from market, which
the Railroads will insure. will amply COM
pensaie for any increase in the rates of taxa
tion that the construction Of the road may
make necessary. Ii the additional four mil
lions State Bonds authorized he issued, ii
would only increase the State dobt 81 to
each person, or $50 To each family in the
State. The interest on it at Z per cent.
would he 81 40 to each family; and. says the
Governor shall we refuse this pttance, when
by granting it. secure ourselves against
the payment of thirty millions, 10y enabling
the Railroads to pay the whole sum? He
produces figures exhibiting the approaching
effect of railroads OH the taxable property of
New York, aud argues that with a completed |
railroad system in Missouri, a like result |
will be seen in ST. Louis, which is the geo
graphical and commercial centre of the
Great West, aud whose advance in popula-
tiun and wealth has been greater in proper
ton than that of New York.
The Governor reminds tie Legislature that
st. Louis has done her part in the way of
helping forward the internal improvements
of the State, by subscribing S7500,O0O to
the railroads, and by paying. without grudg-
ing her large quota OF taxes into the Treas
ury.
As as illustration of the benefits which the
interior counties derive from Railroads. it is
stated that since the survey of the Pacific
Railroads, the taxable property Of Petlis
county has increased from $649 900 to ST.
O5O 900; and that of Johnson county from
S749, 900, in 1852, to S55O0,00O in 1888.
Under the Influence of Railroads, the taxs-
ble property of Massachusetts increased
from $3.50 600, 900 in 1910, to $3.50, OO000
in 1850; aud the increase in the value OF real
estate created by the Nashville and Chatta-
nooga Railroad was equal to five times its
cost
He dcprecates the taking possession of the
Eoads and operating them by the State, as
every such measure as that has resulted dis
assrOusly. He suggests, however, that the
State be represented in the Directories.
Since the adjournment of the last session
Of the Legislature, the Governor has issued
to the Southwest Branch nine hundred bonds,
three hundred of which have been sold for
IS cents on the dollar, and devoted to the
work on the road
AS to "A severance OF the Southwest Branch
from the Pacific Road. the Governor declares
that it would be an illegal Interference with
vested rights, and should not be thought Of
In conclusion, the Governor recommends
further improve ments of the Capitol
Grounds.