Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-06-24

THE RAILROAD CONVENTION.

The convention which assemblies in
Rutland on Thursday is one of great i'm
portance to our business men especial
ly, and all our citizens, and there should
be large gathering to listen to the argu-
ments presented by the gentlemen who
are to address the meeting. The time is
short before the expiration of the time
for completing the vote of Rutland in
favor of aiding the construction of the
Rutland and Woodstock Railroad. Al
though by designing influences the time
may expire before the completion of the
vote, yet, notwithstanding this the people |
of Rutland should listen and ascertain |
the forlorn position they will be in if the
town fails to secure this important con-
nection, and prepare themselves for the
Inauguration of measures by which it
may be accomplished in the future, by the
extension of time for bonding, and make
a new rally and effort, and not be thwartcd
in the accomplishment of project so
vital to the interests of Rutland.
Let all, friend and opponent, 60 to the
convention and candidly listen TO the ar
guments that may be presented in behalf
of ourselves, and if we will not pray for
our own salvation from the disasters that
are before US, allow others to pray for us
who are outside our boundaries and real
lie Inc hazardous position in which we are
placing ourselves Let them inform you
truthfully how all the uninterested world
outside of Rutland look upon our way
wardness and lack of decision in securing
ourselves from the peril, the brink of the
/ precipico upon which we stand, and over
which We seem determined to dash our
business prospects.
/ Let Us, in conclusion, briefly consider
the subject of bonding, and cite an in
stance of its benefits. Cities upon nayi-
gable waters can exist without railroads,
but neither the farmer, merchant or man
urlG.u.es, il. the interior, can do without
them Large towns having railroads with
It's business overdone, as il Is IL in Rut-
Land, other outlets and avenues must be
sought, to draw from territory not at
present connected with those towns If
the,ta1 payer and property holder has the
-hrewduess TO vote to place mortgage
of five or ten per cent. on the assessed
valuation upon his property TO secure
railroad communication, he naturally ex-
poets to pay that mortgage out OF the in
creased value Of his property, and knows
that it will increase his business. His
, conclusions are wise and his Judgment
correct.
=, LANSING. Michigan. Is an illustration Of
our argument. In 1850, it had no rail
road. and only 5000 inhabitants, in 1863
= railroad was built from that city to
f Owosso. and the city took a start, a
, shown by a population of 300 in 1864
In 1860 the valuation Of the city wa'
$40 900. and it voted So, 500 to build
= the road from Jackson to Lansing, and
e also voted to pay its share Of $4,000 IL
l county bonds for the same purpose J.
also voted the next year S22, to thu
.. road from Lansing to Battle Creek. Blu
= one Of these roads i now completed, ye
n the population has increased from 800
e to over 1000 in four years, and the valua
: ton has in the same time gone up iron
y $4,000 to $G5O,OO0, and in both case
K the valuation was made upon basis q
s..- 49, r i - IL g 49, ---s
o der the hammer of the auctioneer. Tha
= city i now holden for 50 900 city bond
A which was, when voted, 10 per cent. {
Il the assessed valuation, but Is now le-
d than per cent. Multiply the assesse
r valuation by the real cash valuation, an
: the ten per cent. aid voted by the city !
e less than one cent and four tenths of TIA
2 present valuation Of the city. Th
1t building Of one railroad has added sever
re ty-fve per cent. to the value OF city prof.
ertv. The vote Of the citizens in faYo
- of.thi, loan was unanimous.
e Lansing owes little over $4,000 {
n. which none falls due in many year
l. and then only ten per cent. in any on
= wear This Is only seven Ter cent. on I'll
: present assessed valuation, and less tina
10 one and haIf per cont upon the ac;u.
n cash valuation. In 1860 the total per cen
'r Of taxation was ten per cent. upon the Al
=. tual valuation, or two per cent. upon III
~ real cash valuation. This year the tot,
" tax is only five per cent. upon the asses-e
OF valu4tion,a and only one per cent. upon I'll
d. cash valuation, As light tax a. Is paid /
:, any other city or town in that State. b
n, fore the city had voted bonds, the annu
- taxation was twice what it now is, ii
IN Guiding the interest on railroad bonds.
10 Another ease may be cited in point
an the city of East Saginaw, in Michigan:
Foundation. June. 1865, 1900
he Indebtedness. Sl4S,5iS
o. Debt per capita. If
IT. Corporate property owned
mt by the city, lli'ooo
on Taxes assessed lSON, ?i,J--
en- Special assessments for street improy
or ments were also made to the extent
~ about $4,000.
d. No city in Michigan il growing with
more rapid ratio than East Saginaw. Il
an Rev. DIR. J. F. Thompson, of New Ior
We says:
H. "There is not city in the whole We
IN to which would take a foreigner who
la l desired TO impress with the growth al
I'm prosperity of American enterprise, soon
orS than to East Saginaw. do not even c
,n- cept Chicago, for at Saginaw one e
ere nearer to the root of things. and can ira
W. every inch of growth"
t. We only ask the citizens of Rutland
ar read and ponder these facts which cam
be denied, and make their own compa
sons, and then ask themselves the questi
if they cannot afford to build the Woo
of stock railroad, and also consider
ne. ouestion whether Rutland, in its prese