Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-10-29
O ON M u n i O q MS
Air Line Railroad.
4'9An

The only question mado, 10 the canvass for
the subscription Of Stock, by the County, to
this road, is, as to the liability of tax. The
appeal is made BY the opponents, that the
npoor widow and orphan" will be imposed
upon N
This is. indeed, most pathetic appeal to
the finer feelings and sympathy OF our nature.
We cnnnot-if wo wouid-rcsist it; it is
impossible; We must know how We act. The
subject is too grave to pass it by lightly. with
only an interest fnr the County, ourselves,
aud future generations, involved III the mat
ter.
In nnswerin. this question will ask
few: If the poor ridnw and orphan be poor,
how much tax would they pay? Is the poor
widow and orphan oppressed by an enter
prise that gives and ramunnrates labor Does
tho encouragement given to Industry and in
provcn,ent of country by railroad opprrss
the poor7 I. not tax assessed agninst prop
erty instead of the poor? How is o tax to
be- burthcn when the property against which
it is assessed is increased in value one hun
Ared fold? How can you show the least pos
ability o. increase nf tx III the subscription
Of 5000, 100 Stock to the Air Line railroad
II there should be an incre.se. what proper
ton would it tc 10 the value received? An
swcr these questions with candor, after due
reflection and thought, aud tell me how tho
poor widow and orphan, or the taxpayers are
to be imposed upon
1t strikes me if tho persons who assert such
as facts, would examine the motive which in !
duces them, they would find that they woe
in the same fix with the young nan VIII was
troubled with OH eruption Of the skin/f seven
years standing, when lie suddenlystfurk
bright idea of his estinnble futl<r. VINO was
d. long since deceased. and re,.emberlng that
he was strong man in his kfe time, illustra
ting it by gyrations Of thu annoyance OF the
: '"yen Y % eruption th"" - sf q "fe'eA' :"
coy3v his own discnse.
,i8ut est there should BE- those who might he
opposedfor fear Of tax, in not understanding
tho liability it cra,te' will give few fy
ures tha0canno, BE- doubted, in answer to the
question:, How much, if anything. can the
tax be indoaSea if we subscribe 5000 ,OOO-
Thc interest on this amount to be provided
for, is 10000 The tax paid this year by
the County Is $4,000. This il paid on ;.
valuation \f $4,000 900.
Whom he road is complete it will add
sl,ooo,ood to the taxable property Of til.
County. 1he increase being one quarter
i. viii pay A,e. ss,e. n9.4rter Of our tax. $4,000
We then sdd $4,000 to the 81 .otUtt, .,tJt
but at tho p'ne time we add tue 81 .OD0.-
OoO to the txabIc property which would
leave $4,000 70 bo provided for, on the as
sessment Of At.o0,',ooo; only Is cents o"
the 800. TRn, q retire tn. bonds in 70
years, add 10 cents to the 500, and the total
would not exceed 25 cents, or $2 % per The
$1,000 of assessment.
In this, theGounty would have acquired
$l,OO0,00O additional taxable property aud
become the owner Of $500, 900 of Stock in the
Air Line Railroad.
In all OF this estimate it must be re.neul
bercd that the figures are based on the pres
ent .gl yalue of property, and without giving
croditfor the income and divd .nds of ,b,. !
R"ilrosd3
And TO s'iose that seem opposed. nr qu..>
tlonithe propricty of aid, would ,sk Il.v.
you not admitted, and even asserted. that YOU |
believe the roAd will DO a paying one, hw
: tatlcd"to' 'htarof any otner expression. II so
how istit'to be- htburthcn on othe poor wi:ow
and orphan. Of the tux payers?. A div drml
of 3 percent will pay the 5000 tt),at WI,
loft of the interest after credit is given t.. iii,
railroad for other taxes paid 10 the County
Before auy one ca,l s,lstpin silo, th
Che Stock would be beNurhensomc by sax,s,
theygmast abandon tie admissions. thpt. /,
would be y paying road
Another credit to the Gnllityofstax musf
be3snades s0f the increase to tie yalue of nron
@irty d,sde by tho lidvanrteS"' OF the ro,d. Il
liz safe to say thhtthc rond iAcrausrs tho yua,c
Of properly IN the County Wo.fold, IL con
stspalsa through tho centor, making tho val
200 900; % profit of $4,000, ,OO0 blythe
I Isl $780, 900 s.. ,.5 I .i
! Iask then the self sacrificing gSsympa,l,ctio
hearted msp,g how is tho poorSorphap md L
widow robbed by subscribing s206, 900 Stock
! 20 the AIR I,ias railrosd 2 Hot those WIN
deaire 80. act for the inseroat Of TIE County
and the good Of tho people bowaraof those
IN kn nfnoaas nid III fha road and aati M tbor,