The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-09-02
Judge Dutton and the Bonds.

kindly offered your columns for . dis
cussion Of the question Of issuing Bonds
Of the County. 10 the Atchison. Topeka
and Santa Fee R. r. Co.. and as | con-
s:der the question as one Of great i'm.
portsnce TO ALL the citizens Of the Coun-
~. will give my views. briefly IS pos
sibls. hoping that all voters will weigh
the subject we'll. and remember that
their action at THIS time. will, in all
probability. materially affect the great
Rail Road system in this State. for oil
time to come. ltis we'll known 10 those
best acquainted with me. that have
always opposed Counties giving Bonds
in the usual manner. TO build Rail Roads;
but this is . very different case. where
the Bonds are not TO be issued until the
Road is completed. and in running or
der THROUGH tina. part of our County
found to be upon the most direct and
feasible route. and although the Co.
Commissioners made . slight mistake
10 the wording Of their Proclamation,
submitting the question to vote. we
all understand that the proposition made
BY the r. R. Company. is. ''thst Bonds
be issued when the road is completed
through the County," and the Commis-
sioners can fix that matter, so as to con-
form to the facts in the case. aud ~ the
proposition stands I am heartily in favor
Of accepting it.
Some objection is raised on The ground
that it will increase our taxes. which
indeed, is the only objection that can be
urged. Now le, us consider what will
be the result in that respect. After
spending considerable time looking over
the surface Of the country between
Atchison and Topeka. and conversing
with the Chief Engineer Of the Company
with reference to the probable route Of
the road. l have come to the conclusion
that the most direct and feasible route
will cross 28 10 80 miles Of land in our
County. Now take low estimate. say
e5 miles. at a cost Of ss5, 900 per mile.
and we have SECS. 900 of the Compa-
ny's property. to which add half Of a
bridge over the Kaw River. say $50. 900,
making $685. 600 assessable property.
Then We may safely calculate the build.
ing of the road. and the consequen!
immigration along the line will double
the value Of land for Eve miles on each
side the line. but 10 he within bounds.
We will cay it will increase the assessed
value tro dollars per acre. and we have
increased value Of land assessed $780,.
80. ---.-s an aggregate '-,.---- -
1895. 600 taxable property. upon which
10 levy taxes. without taking into &C
count the increase Of personal property
brought in by the immigration. and BY
she building Of towns the tax upon
which sum, at the rate per cent. levied
last year. foI State and County purpose.
alone. would give elI,94O. where only
$1,000 is needed with which to pay the
interest on the Bonds. Those who live
q distance from the line. although 70.
ceiving the advantages derived from
the road. inasmuch as it brings foreign
markets comparatively near their doors
and adds continually TO the develop.
ment and rapid growth and wealth ol
the whole County. will never feel any
burden from tue Bonding. and il those
along the line. whose property is enhau.
ced in value 100 per cent. cannot afford
to pay f'oo per cent. Of it to help insure
such an event. they ought certainly to
sell out to some one WHO can. Some
persons acknowledge the advantages to
be derived by the building Of this road
but argue 1t will be built anyway. after
while. so there is no use giving aid for
il now. l do not consider it SO certain,
by any means, or at oil events that i,
will touch our county, unless it is secur-
ed BY our action at this time, because
the different important lines now con.
templated as forming the main system
of Rail Roads throughout our State,
making their various important connec.
tons east aud west. north and south,
WILL be started soon. and our neighbor.
ing counties are awake 10 the import.
ance Of getting start that will forever
put them in the ascendsncy. and il the
proposition 10 this County is not accept.
ed, similar one TO some other locality.
doubtless will be. in which event. we
have in the Pacific Road the only one
We are likely 70 get. and it is not beyond
the bounds Of possibility that as Coun.
~ We may lose Ghat from our limits