Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-08-12
RAILROAD ELECTION T!
Railroad or no Railroad
Competition Brings Low
Rates Of Tariff.
POLLS OPEN AT COUNCIL ROOM.

- - SSS w. $500. -
I'm Return.
POLLS OPEN AT COUNCIL ROOM.
An important question to the peo-
pie of Cedar Falls township will be
decided to-day. Shall we have a
competing railroad within the next
ninety days? For it we have labored
years and spent our money and now
it is within our grasp. The oppor-
tunity is presented to us for our ac-
ceptance or rejection. Vote the tax
and the work will be commenced at
once. Judge Green, President of the
company, who is now in New York,
Is waiting to purchase the iron to lay
the track from Waterloo to Cedar
Falls, Immediately on receipt of q
dispatch that the tax is carried. The
cars will be running into Waterloo
by the Goth day of September, or
October LIST at the farthest, and it is
the desire of the company to reach
Cedar Falls as soon thereafter as pos
sible. The company mean business,
and the location of the road will be
made within the next six days after
the tax Is voted. -..-
We give below the essence of the
contract made between the Burling-
ton, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota r.
r. and the Committee representing
the citizens and tax. payers of Cedar
Falls township:
The said Railway Company here
by agrees and binds itself, its success
sors and assignes to extend their line
of Railway from Waterloo to the city
of Cedar Falls, on the west side of
Cedar river, and have the same In
operation by the 30th day Of No
vember, 1870, if practicable and in
any event by the slst day Of Deem
Der, 1870, and to fix and permanently
maintain, with suitable accommoda-
tions, a depot within ee-quarters
VI y litiV II'ili IhC SCAitCt va A-IttiOti
twelve (l2l, in said city. Your com>
mittee, in behalf Of the citizens and
Taxpayers, have promised and agreed
to cause to be voted 10y the legal
voters of said Cedar Falls township,
five per cent. tax on the assessed val
uation of property IN said township,
and subscription for right of way
and depot grounds upon the above
conditions to be performed by the
company. Also, to cooperate in
every reasonable way and manner
with said company to secure an early
extension and completion of said
road to the city of Cedar Falls.
The contract is signed in behalf OF
the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and
Minnesota Railway Company, by
Geo. Green. President of said Com
pany, and on behalf the citizens and
tax payers of Cedar Falls township,
by j. p. Powers, Peter Melendy aud
G.. b. Van Saun.
Consumated at I.arorte, Iowa, on
the 4th day of August. 1870.
This contract compelIs a forfeiture
of the tax providing the cars are not
running into Cedar Falls by the first
of January next. 1t is plain bust
ness transaction, which every man
may see at a glance. Without the
benefits of the road the voting Of the
tax becomes null and void. With
the voting of the tax we have secured
to us the benefits of competing
route to Chicago. When the road is
completed to Cedar Falls the comna.
ny propose putting on two fast trains
day. Leaving here at p. NJ, you
will arrive at Chicago next morning
at o'clock. Leave Chicago ut 1885,
p. NJ, and arrive at Cedar Falls at
A. NJ. the next day. Sleeping cars
accompany the tain from Cedar
Rapids. Now as TO the advantages
OF railroad competition, who can he
blind to its benefits In this age of tie
world. True, Cedar Falls will reap
the good of it, but will not the coun-
try surrounding also, i'm the matter
of cheap freights. Look at Charles
City to-day, with her competing line
of railroads. For circuit OF twenty
miles around and away from other
towns, the farmers are hauling their
wheat TO Charles City 10 get the ben
efits of competing routes. The same
will be the result i'm Cedar Falls.
Look at the growth of tedar Rapids
during the past year! and why? Be-
cause of her railroad facilities. Leg
islate on railroad monopolies until
dooms day, If you chose, the only
way TO secure cheaper freights is
through competition. Grant fol ar
guments sake, that the amount asked
is too much; where is there n bust
ness man who will not risk ten dol
lars when he is sure of receiving
fifty in return. AS to the benefits OF
accepting this opportunity, we might
continue to discuss much longer, but
it would seem to be useless labor.
We hope a large majority of the tax.
payers and voters of Cedar Falls
township will look to their interests
in casting their votes to-day. 1t is
an important period In the history OF
Cedar Falls, and We hope to sec no
stone unturned that will secure to us
the benefits of this competing route
BY referring to the law passed by
the legislature under which this cleo.
ton is held, it will be seen:
/. That this tax can only be col
lected at the same time and i'm the
same manner as other taxes. No in
terests aocruing until the LIST OF
March.
2. That the total amount of tax
which can be voted or raised under
this law, cannot exceed per cent,
whether voted all at once or at several
times.
3. That 1t Is not per cent. of the
actual cash value, but only per cent.
Of the assessed value. which is prob
ably not more than one-thlrd of the
actual value.
A. That the money so voted can
only he expended i'm this township.
5. That the railroad company cam
not draw IL from the county treasury
until they have already expended
twice the amount of the tax in the
township.