The Van Buren press., 1870-03-08

1 y
to $lS0,00C
Principal 100000
Whole amount paid ont by coun-
ty, 2SO,0OC
The county receives for building
fifteen miles of road and build
ings 10000
On which the profit is 53h per
cent, making 10000
The county tax on which would
| amount per annum to SOC
County tax on fifteen miles Of
railroad and fixtures at twenty
five thousand dollars per mile,
making 1915, 900 at per ct. $3.50
Dividend on 100000 stock at 10
per cent. 10000
(Which is low estimate
You will see the credits of the
county, per annum are 1I,250
Which in thirty yrs. ANTS to 427, 300
The amt. paid to railroads sub
stractcd from the dividends on
tax paid to county S2S0,000
leaves a clear profit of I47,5CO
Or Sl,9l6 6G 100 per annum.
And this is but 1.-THE Of the profits
which would accrue to Crawford County.
From the most reliable statistics we find
that Railroads increase the exports from
the country through which they pass,
twentyfiv thousand dollars per mile an
nually, which to this country alone would
amount to S375,00 And / am of the
opinion from observation, by the time a
railroad can be completed to this city,
the population will have increased two
fold, and in two years hepopulation and
taxable property will be quadruplcd and
the tax of per ct. Of to day will not cx-
cccd three fourth of one per cent four
years hence, with railroad.
There is two hundred thousand dollars
worth of cotton produced in this county
on which 5 per cent could be saved by
advantage of choice Of market and in
surance which amounts to 10000 per
annum, and nearly doubles the amount
asked to aid the railroad.
There is 100000 worth of merchan-
disc sold to Crawford County, for at least
I5 per cent. more than it would be sold
if we have q railroad on account of the
advantages our merchants would have in
their purchases and insurance, freights,
etc, which amounts to 100000 per an
mum.
There is at least, as muck produce
wasted for want Of a proper market as
will pay the subscription asked. The
fruit crops would bring an income with
in five years, of one hundred thousand
dollars annually, if we have a railroad so
that we could take advantage of the mar
kets, for instance, last spring early ap-
pies, sold i'll Chicago for Sl2 per bbl..
and we could supply that market one
month earlier than it could be supplied
at home. One acre of apple orchard at
ten years old ought to bring 1900 bush
els per acre, which if early fruit and sold
in Northern markets ought to bring S2,.
600 clear of all expense And when that
time arrives our hill lands which are now
nominal in price, will be the most valua-
bic in the State, and men now who arc
settling their little homesteads and not
anticipating they will ever be very de.
sirable, will find themselves the richest
men in the State, with reasonable indus
try and foresight on their part at this
time.
Railroads, education and capital go
hand in. hand. When any country is dc.
plived of either, the others generally
prove to be failure,
About sixteen years since assisted in
laying the first sixty miles OF track on
the Illinois Central Railroad, from Chi
eago, and at that time the Company of
fered to sell lots at nominal prices and
now many Of those towns, which were
then only on paper, are three times as
large as our own State Capital. At that
time Illinois owed Sl3,000,0 GOO, aud her
credit was not worth 80 cents on the dol
lar; her State officers could notpay post
age with her credit. She funded her
State debt and promised to pay, and now
that debt is paid, and the tax from the
Illinois Central Railroad pays the whole
expenses OF the State government proper,
Arkansas, to-day, has decided adyan-
tage over Illinois at that time She has
a better climate and is a better agricul,
tural State, and has the advantage of ly-
ing between two prairie countries that
will be markets for her exports of lum-
Der, fruits, and other products, etc
This letter is too long but l feel an in.
terest in seeing the aid asked for by the
Railroad Company granted voted for
the law which provides for this loan, and
in doing so believed was working for
the best interests of Arkansas, and as vet
have had no reason to change my opin.
ion. Yours &C.,
RADICAL.
LITTLE Rock, Feb 90, 20.
d. j. Brown, ESQ, County Attorney Of
Crawford County