Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-07
RAILROAD TAX.
II Is no Tax---SubIlmity Of Facts and
tigures---6O In to Get Out.

The real estate Of the city of Memphis,
worth thirty millions, is steadily advance
ing in value. If we suppose it to be
owned by three thousand persons, each
would have $40, 900 worth. The debt IF
the city is about three and q hall millions,
or $3.50 due from each property holder,
and payable within an average of ten
wears. with interest. If the city and
county each agree to aid FORESTS roa to
the extent of $3.50, 900, the city, as taxes
are now imposed, must pay at least two
thirds Of the whole sum of S5OO,OO0, or
S375, 600 in five years, or 1900 annually.
Each Of 5000 property holders u there
fore pay SIS per annum for hve years to
secure the construction of the Selma road,
and the whole public debt Of each prop
erty holder becomes 1925. The question
arises whether it is easier for Memphis
property holders to pay S425, with a rail-
road to Holly Springs, Okolona and Sell
ma. or to pay $3.50, each citizens share OF
the subsisting public debt, without the
aid of the Selma road.
HOW TO III MONEY BACK.
Each citizen having $4,000 worth of
property owes already $3.50, and II he
would pay it most easily he cannot hesi-
tate to assent to a Dlan which, as we are
assured by every factin our past history,
will not only extinguish the debt, but
leave a balance of profit of from two TO
five thousand dollars.
THE RIVE CANNOT EFFECT OUR PUR-
PosEs
The river had rolled onward its hurry
ing tide of turbid waters, and the wealt b
of an empire through many years was
borne on its troubled bosom. But the
city of to-day vas still a village when
agencies more potent in the production OF
wealth and concentration of trade and
-. LsALnunwun ~ ann
merce, gave fresh impetus to the progress
and prosperity Of Memphis. The Missis-
sippf is a magnificent epic poem written
by the hand of OmnipOJence on the face
of a continent. In the sonorous majesty
of LIQUID measures grander than those of
the Iiiad and Odyssey it m down from
the mountains, gathering force and vol
ume, describing sites for splendid cities
and defining boundaries of pOpulous
States in its solemn, eternal, resounding
march to the sea. With all its grandeur,
of which those of US who went away
when war da%kened the land with its
shadows, never ceased to dream, its prae-
tical utility has awaited us infinitely less
in the aggregation of wealth than rail-
ways penetrating every district OF the
South.
OTHER ROADS.
Unlike other roads, this to Selma cannot
be used TO divert travel and traffic. There
is no city southeast of Memphis near
enough to turn backward the tide Of
trade, and hither must come all towns
and cities of the country penetrated by
Forests road. From this point will be
distributed products of the Northwest,
and Memphis will be made not only a
greater cotton market than ever before,
but become the depository for all pro-
ducts of the Gulf coast, to be exchanged
for cereals and bacon of the Northwest.
Let US have one road which of necessity
will find its interest promoted by making
cities that build it the beneticiaries of
its commerce..
MEMPHIS FEMALE SEMINARY.-The
annual examination of the classes in this
institution will commence on Wednesday
the Sth, at 9 o'clock am. Senior classes
wednesday; Junior and preparatory,
Thursday. exercises on