Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-06-29
BOURBON ITEMS.
BY +. j. BECK.
Shall Bourbon be Inoorporated?-Th

Shall Bourbon be Incorporated
question will be submitted to the voters of Bour
bon next Saturday. The present condition of the
town renders this question of more than ordna-
ry interest, and every man who has the good OF
the town at heart should think well before casting
his vote against the measure. The last few years
have worked great changes. Ours is not the quiet,
slow going village it was a few years ago, but in
stead we have Furnishing rapidly growing town,
in many respects second to no town in Marshall
county. And this prosperity is not ephcmeral--
the mere imitation o. bubble. The foundat ion
of our success is permanent and unfailihg No
other point within a circuit of many miles affords
the same opportunities for safe and profitable in
vestment as this. This fact is we, known through
out the country and attracts many enterprising.
moneyed men to our town, aud will continue to do
50 unless We by own act decide that IL shall not
be So The state of emi-anarchy in which we n wv
are cannot longer exist without causing serious in
convenience to our citizens and efectually check
ing our progress in future. That unity Of purpose
and feeling which exists in a small village, serves
to regulate and guide the actions of its citizens du
ring the infancy of the town, but when il has reach
ed that stage in its history which our town has
reached this unity of purpose ceases. The in
crease of wealth causes the cashing of individual
glect of the minor public duties which must be per
formed by some one, yet are too minute to be com
pretended in the general laws that govern the
country. A state of anarchy ensues which is
pleasant and annoying to the citizens, and sufh
cient to check the influx of population from other
points. and consequently seriously retards the
growth and prosperity Of the town.
We have reached that point,-a point which de-
mands that the town shall have authority to con-
tIo its affairs and nterests-that it have power TO
take immediate action to relieve itself from the
numberlcss petty annOyanccs to both citizens and
soiourncrs, from which no relief can otherw isc be
obtained.
The min objection that we have heard urged
against the is the teary tax that will have
to be assessed to delray the expense of grading
streets. building sidewalks, &c, &c. We cannot
believe that those who urge this objection are in
earnest. Every one canycrsalt with such aff,irs
must be aware that the taxation necessary to sup
port the government of an incorporated town no
larger than Bourbon will be very light. The citi
zens or Bourbon pay either in money or work near
four hundred dollars each year to keep the public
highways in repair, and not one dollar in twenty of
this money is expended on the streets of Bourbon.
That amount of money would in few years 20
far toward grading all streets and building side
walks where they are most needed. We cannot
expect to do all that is to be done in one or two
years. Ii five years from the date of our inc0rpo
ration finds our streets and sidewalks in proper or
der viii have done better than any ncighbOring
towns--and in that time the annual poll tax paid
by those within the corporation will have paid the
heaviest part of the cost, instead of being e~pend-
cd on the roads outside of town. The additional
tax over and above this saving will be very light,
and compared to tho many advantages gained by
the act OF incorporation, dwindlc into lnsignih-
canoe.
Let us no. allow the fear Of increased taxes to
blind US to interest. All the comforts
and Injuries of life must be paid for. If by tho
payment of 4 few cents each wear we can have our
streets reed from Instructions and rendered navi-
gable,--order maintained throughout the town,
and at the same tine by The same means enhance
The value of our property, is it wise policy to re
fuse to do sol