The Placer herald., 1860-06-16
The Railroad Question.

The Railroad Question.
There is not man in California, the coun-
ty of Placer included that is not Pacific
Railroad advocate, and anxious for the speedy
prosecution of that great work, under the
authority and with the resources of the Gen
eral Government. None can see an obiec-
tirn to the Government lending assistance to
carry it forward to successful completion.
And yet, when we come down to home
inprovement--on in which we have di-
rect interest, Of pecuniary benefit to the peo-
pie OF our whole county, we find a number
of individuals here VITO are warning bitterly
against any assistance to it by the county
government. We speak of the Sacramento,
Placer d Nevada Railroad-a work of great
or direct Importance to the people of this
county than all the Pacific Railroads that
will ever be built. Why is this! If it is
right that the nation shall build work that
will rebound to the advantage of the whole
Pacific coast, is it wrong that the county
should give moderate assistance and en-
couragem~nt to an enterprise that must ad-
vance its development and prosperity an hun.
dred fold within the next five years' Ger
tainly net, Then why the opposition to the
assistance asked? Is i. because the road will
increase population and taxable property;
reduce taxation; bring more business, and
greater facilities for transacting it; secure
greater safety in the transit of treasure; aud
command the trade of Western Utah? 1t
would seem so-for in the face of all these.
and numerous other advantages, an opposi-
ton is found.
But much alarm is manifested that by
county aid to the above Railroad and the
Wagon Roads, taxation will be increased
Let us examine this. If the county takes
500, 900 stock in this Railroad, and appro-
PIRATES $4,000 to the two Wagon Roads,
the amount ofinterest upon that amount will
be $4,000. By the provisions of the law,
however, the Railroad Company must COM
plete a division of their rcad thirteen miles
in length, before the county can take more
than $50,000 in stock, upon which $4,000
per annum interest would be to pay. This
division, according to the engineers esti-
mates, will cost over $3.50, O0O;-which
amount at the present rate of taxation, (s2
on the 500 valuation) would yield reve-
nue. to the county of $4,000 per annum, or
$1,000 more than the in crest the county
would have to pay upon the Railroad bonds.
Or if the road was returned upon the tax
roll for 20 per cent less than its cost its taxes
would pay the interest upon the bonds
This is making no account of the accumula-
ton Of other property by means of the road,
or Of the rise of property convenient to the
road influenced by its construction, which
in little while would equal the cost of the
road ITSELF This would then leave $4,000
interest on the wagon road bonds to be pro
vided for, and in the California Central Rail
road. an improvement extending more than
twenty miles through the county, that next
year will come upon the tax-roll, we have
over pay this interest. These railroad i'm
provemen,s then will more than pay the in
terest upon all the bonds the county will is
sue for Rail and Wagon Road purposes, and
the rapid growth of property caused by
their construction will yield further large
revenue and Tighten the taxation now paid.
That Railroads do largely and rapidly in
crease the property of a county, the expe-
rience of every State of the Union, that has
sueh works, abundantly proves. The effect
of Railroads in Placer county would not
prove an exception, and upon this experience
every one may safely found their belief that
our taxation will not be increased
Nothing would so rapidly give us taxable
property as 3 Railroad 1t is itself perma
nent Improvement, and brings Others of a
like character,-not the mere unsubstantial
structures o' day, but works that are to be
lasting. Railroads br ng men Of wealth and
public spirit, who prefer to expend their en-
ergies and means in rapidly growing coun
~ to one that is behind the march of i'm
provement. 1t is in advantages like these
that taxes will be reduced, and wealth come
to our doors; and it is the duty of every vo
ter TO en- leavor to secure these benefits.
1u ~ -. a. ~ ~.