The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-22
THE RAIL ROAD TAX.

Police Jury at its late session the
people are required to vote on the
question whether. the parish shall
issue eight per cent twenty year
bonds to the amount Of one hun
dred thousand to aid the construc-
ton of the New Orleans, Baton
Rouge and Vicksburg Rail Road.
At first sight this might appear to
be a large sum, but itcan be easily
demonstrated, not only that the tax
to raise it is very light, but that
the sum advanced will be more
than returned.
No tax is to be paid on the bonds
until one year after the completion
of the road through the parish, a
distance of fifty miles. So that,
the money is not thrown away IN a
wild and uncertain speculation. In
that year the people are to pay the
first wears interest on the bonds,
amounting to eight thousand dol
lars. The late assessment of all the
property in the parish, real and
personal, amounted to 52,75O.0OO.
The amount Of tax to be paid Will
be, then, about thirty cents ON the
thousand dollars, even supposlng
that the value of the property OF
the parish will not be increased by
the facilities afforded for getting to
market. But we know that such
enhancement will take place, I'M
less we shut our eyes to the facts
developed by the history Of every
other rail road that has ever been
built. With such yearly increase
in value, the tax will he proportion
ally decreased until within a few
wears it will be only nominal.
But, on the assumption that the
whole amount has to be paid on the
present valuation of property, If
that were possible, it would still be
a good investment, and the money
paid out would be returned to the
full amount. In the first year that
a tax'is paid, there will be expen-
ded on the road in this parish
alone the following sums:
Ties..---. -....-----.------.-.. 60 OO0
Grading, laying track and ties $50 00O
Labor, building stations &c .--- 4O 0OO
Material for Same--. .----- 4o UOu
Agents, Engineers &c..-..-----. 10 00O
Total w. $500 00O
This large amount will be ex-
pended among our own people anc
will add thus much to the wealth OF
the parish. Now we are all inter
ested in the increase of the wealth
of each Individual in the parish.
We like to see our laborers in en-
ployment, and our mechanics
growing rich on the fat jobs which
railroads always throw into their
hands.
Moreover, if any one will take
the trouble to make the calcula-
ton (and we propose to do so in a
subsequent article) it will be OBJ
served that, in the first year after
the completion of the road to Co
tile, there. will be a saving in
freights alone in this parish al
least 100000, the amount asked
for from the people Of the parish
If money saved is money made
then the people will have palt
themselves for their advance il
the first year after the bonds arr
issued. We ask the voters and ta1
payers to think over these things
and we are sure that if they re
feet upon them they will come tx
the conclusion that it is a matte,
Of economy to vote to issue tn
bonds. Many other advantages ar
apparent to us, which we propos
to present in subsequent numbers
In the mean time we are happy t.
inform the friends of progress tina
we have yet heard of no serious OF
position to the issuance of TIL
bonds.
THE LoRD's PRAYER "A maiden kne
| in the twilight hour, and clasping her hant
fervently breathed forth "Our FAITH