Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-02-05

blade Of glass while living Can you
prove to the farmers who own lands
only for homes that the benefits Of
railroads will more than balance al
ditional taxes arising from increased
valuation? | think under present
and prospective monopolies you wod
find it difficult. Hundreds and hun
dreds Of farmers in the West have
railroads running through their own
farms, paying tax accordingly, and
yet have to occupy day in making
a trip to a depot then who would be
benefited other than the Spectator
the land shark vino had succeeded in
appropriatin& more acres than he can
make profitable except by legislation.
\ es, it would benefit him and the rest
less, rowing character who always
jumps in hot haste to sell home at
good price. Yes, it would benefit
these and the "oilaqe plot man" who
has "corner lots" to sell. To help such
are we counseled to tax ourselves :?
Is it good policy? But had we not
better 50 slow about promises to pay
for few years to come? AS po0~
pie we are most enot mously in debt
now. Wehave been paying taxes for
few years past far exceeding in
amount anything known in the finan-
cial history Of the world For the
year '66 we paid into the national
treasury S1604 per capita, while Great
Britain paid only $1,000 and France
$797. Our national debt, if paid to
day would absorb nearly serenity ire
doildrs per capita, which in addition
to our local and state taxes w Il hang
pretty heavy about our necks if we
should continue to prosper, but to
such as keep an eye upon our govern
ment, state, railroad and municipal
bonds and the growing proportions
Of our commercial balances abroad,
and remember the monetary events
Of 1917, 81, 81, II, and 81 will be
inclined to stop and inquire in 81 is
it good policy to vote tax in aid Of
railroads? w. X. z.
REMARKs.-The Boscobel man be>
trays a wish for biting somebody in
discussing the matter Of public taXa>
ton for works Of general utility; and
the man "W. X. T." is theablest cons
tortionist and artfullcst dodger we
have attempted to converse with for
many a day. Both are highly intel,
lectual and learned and ifrceconstruc>
ted with greater breadth could not
fail to rise to eminent position.
The latter named misuses the word
and idea communism and then perverts
the meaning of the word tdratioa by
associating with these words such
IDEAS as these: taxing us the last
dollar" railroads help the village
plot man, " eve are asked to tax ours
selves to help the village man, &c.
His article SO runs through with what
would be demogogueism were most
any other man its author.
His whole article is q demurrer to
our propositions in this that he lays
down certain untcnable propositions,
credits them to Us and then proceeds
to their demolition. We used these
propositions for our foundation:-
Common roads and bridges arc right
fully made by the aid Of general tax,
alton; such are necessary for the
general wealth and comfort, and so
are railroads. Now, as two or three
railroads throughGrant county would
greatly promote the general wealth
and comfort, to~wit; pay every man
tenfold for the outlay, would it not
be well for the people to tax thcm>
selves, say six to eight per cent. thro
as many years, for railroads as well as
common highways?
But "W. X. u" willhave it that we
want the last dollar taxed out Of the
farm people for helping the village
people! And he viii have it that we
want such calamties to come off at
once /! Oh, he is in awful fear of the
bullgine and taxation ~
But norcader OF the Hera7d can re-
quire us to attempt any logical reply
to such string of perversions. From
time to time we may offer some fur~
ther reasons for community (not CONS
nune)taXaton for common highways
and -inasmuch as hence>
forth if railroads are to be built in
Grant county the people must take
hold and build them-at least pay for
most Of the work.