Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-03-10
IFor the Minera, Point Tbune. ]
Railroad Taxation Again.


value Of ali property over a wide scope
of territory, contiguous to it; and there
fore it is right TO tax all such contiguous
territory to aid in the construction of
said road.
This doctrine spread out and made
general in its application, would take
this form :-Whatever enterprise might
tend to increase the value of property
within a certain limit, is legitimate
cause for taxation, over and upon that
limit
Taking this as the major premise, we
viii complete a syllogism, Ia reductis
ad absurduna, and then pass on.
Starting and running lines of stages,
express lines, and trains of wagon trans
portatlon, to be owned and controlled by
any private individual or company or,
building grist mill, ditto or, setting up
a soap and taliow chambers establish~
ment, ditto, would tend to materially en-
nance the value of property within the
sphere CT their operations. Consequently
it would be right and proper, to tax the
territory benefited, to this end
Now, can anyone tell the difference
between this application of the rule, and
the favorite one of the taxationists, ex-
cept in degree 1t will be remembered,
that we are dealing with principles en~
tering into the science of civil governs
ment, which ought to be as well defined
and as exact as rules in mathematics
aud in view of this, we hold you, gentle
en- taxationists, to general application
of your own rule; and if in perusing it,
you are landed upon an absurdity, this
fact indicates that your premises are
wrong They are wrong, most undoubt-
eddy. Do not then, continue TO press by
sheer weight of numbers this wrong up
on US, who dissent from yourviews. Let
us be tollerant-"Let US have peace"
1t is admitted, that the railroad in~
creases the value of real estate at points
where depots are located, enormously;
but it is not clear, that it fayorably eff
fects the value of the mass of personal
property, even at such points. Certainly,
neither taxable monies, household stuffs,
or merchantile goods are effected ; and
horses are, If anything, deprecated in
value. Now, as both real and personal
property, are thrown into a common pool
for taxation, it is evident that those who
are taxed on realty, are compensated by
the increase of value, and those who are
taxed on personally, are oppressed by
such taxation. The argument then does
not hold good in all cases. Inequality
and injustice are sure to follow, in its
train
Nor is this all 1t is found, that taxi
ing the depot sites as centres Of apprecia-
ton, the rate of increase rapidly declines
as we go out in any direction, and termi-
mates but a few miles removed There's
fore, adjusting the taxable territorial
limit in any case, there is danger of in
Guiding property not likely to be effected
by the construction Of the road and
where whole counties are involved, as is
the unfortunate case with Iowa county,
there must necessarily result the most
fragrant injustice to large part of their
population Take the case of Avoca-
now provided with railroad facilities take
the case Of your duped and swindled
FARM MoRrGAGoRs" in the north part of
the county would it be just or generous
to put upon those people, an oppressive
tax, to aid in the construction of a rail-
road in q remote part of the county, in
which they would have not the slightest
interest? 1t would be the justice CD that
the strong, arrogant in their might, would
measure out to the weak A country
could not long be held together in amity
if such were the character of its admins
istration.
Again. The argument of the taxa
tionists implies every man owning prep
perty, to be a speculator, a notrad a
over-a large proportion of our western
people is true; and that it is the great
curse of the country, is equally true. A
spirit of adventure, and of wild interest,
seems to pervade all classes, but there
are exceptions. There are those who
seek to build up and beautify homes for
themselves and their posterity, who cans
not cut themselves loose from that which
they have seen grow mp piece by piece,
under the labor of their own hands and
these are your true citizens.
Now, the taxationists who take it up
on themselves to decide that a railroad
will increase the value of property so
held, and acting upon this assumption
proceeds to vote the tax. The only ad-
vantage which can accrue to such an
abiding people in such case, is possible
| increase of business facilities, and of con-
yenience and economy Of locomotion.-
Admitted, thattheir property is.enhanced
in value; but, IS this any advantage to
them other than in trading sense, of
which, we assume, they are not disposed
to avail themselves BY such increase
of value, comes an increased burden of
taxation which surely they viii not de-
( sire; and which, as surely will breed
/ discomfort towards the powers that be,