The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-01-18
not foist on the public a spurious article.

not foist on the public a epurious article.
It is really quite refreshing in these
days, when patriotism means dollars, to
find SO many desirous that the dear
public should open their purses to auoh
disinterested parties as "Fair Play" and
the editor of the Union. It is great
relief that the dear people will hereafter
be saved the trouble of thinking, and
only he required to pay double taxes for
the benefit of the speculators on city
bonds. May inquire how much Mesers.
Neagle & Go. are to pay for the liberal use
of the Union2 Have the editor of the
Union and "Fair Play" any axes to
grind?
The writer enlightens us poor ignorant
Columbians as to the economy of our
city government, compared with Au
gusta. but omits to state the fact that
Augusta has population of 35. 600 to
10000, and receives some $50, 900 bales
cotton, while Columbia in population is
not over 5000 to 10000, and the past
market. Several thousand bales we're
driven off by tho City Council appoint
ing incompetent weighers. Columbia
at one time controlled nearly as much
cotton as Augusta, and in by-gone times,
Mr.. r. Dulin purchased $4,000 and Mr.
Il. O'Neale $4,000 bales cotton in one
year. Columbia was burned in 1866,
and her merchants lost their entire cnpi-
tai. There was not pair of Fairbanks
scales left in the city to weigh out the
rations sent by the charitable for the
support of the people here, many of
whom were formerly the most afauent in
the city. Augusta furnished scales for
this purpose. She was fortunately no
suferer-no destitution--no houses
burnt-no property destroyed. She
came out with all her energies and means
unimpaired, able to contend for busi-
ness and pay heavy taxes if required.
She has her cotton and -four mills and
other manufactures, together with low
rates of transportation by river naviga
tion. Her commerce is Mt tho present
time Us large as Charleston, and in all
the evidences of prosperity, she is far
ahead of that well.taxed city. Perhaps
the well-informed editor of tho Union
might find on inquiry, that considering
the value of property in the two cities,
that Columbia bears the heaviest bur
thens. Will he state what licenses and
taxes has to be borne by the mercantile
classes, the public debt and taxation in
real estate, together with the aggregate
value of the latter in the two cities?
In former times, when Columbia was
in the zenith of her prosperity, and
O'Neale and Dulin were buying their
40, 600 bales cotton per year. the city 60
vernment cost about as follows: Mayor,
no salary; Clerk of Council. 1000;
Chief of Police, $1,000; Policemen,
SIS, 600; Superintendent Water Works,
81, 900; Street Overseer, $500; in NIL
SIS, 500, which is, if anything, in excess
Of actual facts and much below the
$14, 600 now said to be paid by the edi-
tor of the Union. At this time, too, the
value of real estate was much greater,
and the population larger than it now is.
The principles Of political economy now
seem to be that the poorer community
is, and the less resources they possess,
the greater reason for heavy taxes exist.
Will the editor of the Union, who knows
so much of our affairs, enlighten us in
regard to himself? Where did he come
from? How long has he been here?
How much was his compensation at
home? How much does he make here?
Is it true that Denny makes q large
amount per day in excess of a fair
charge for the public printing? Is the
editor in the ring with Neagle & Co.?
Has he any city bonds? And last,
though not least, is the case of Caesar
Gurley true? If the editor answers these
questions in spirit of candor and fuir-
ness, we have q few more of the same
sort left. INQUIRER.
COLUMBIA, 8. O., January 16, 1871.
NJ Il.