The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-10-11

nav il AZ 4 portion Of tho public. paying all
taxes. while the gas itself would be greatly
reduced in price. and the amounts required
to pay expenses and leave a margin would
hc made up hv those who either occupy
large pieces of land, and others who own
unoccupicd tracts ami derive benefits from
the improvements going on around thcih'
and for which they pay nothing; while the
tax itself, being general and equal to aii,
would give no just grounds for complaint.
ITO illustrate this we will adducc IN
cX liuplc aS Il result OF lis operations: Ihc
occupant of a lot uf 10 feet front by 100 lcet
deem would have $3.50 superficial feet. Ihc
propcScd tax of one and u half mlllS would
cost him SI62 per annum, While ms gas
bill. which would be very low NJ SS0 per
annum. would he reduced more than twice
the amount of the land tax. 1t is easy TO
see that this is Il minimum case, and, these
prnportions carried out. when ten times
This amount OF gas is consumed, would
make au exhibit in increased proportions.
This form of taxation commcnds itself
10y simplicity of operation. some time ana
labor must hr consumed i'll reducing this
subject TO details. The size of every lot in
the citv will have 10 hc nsctrtalncd, but
this Will only have to be done once, and af-
icrwarls the amount OF feet 10 be taxed
Will never vary. 1t will be, as mnthcmatl-
cianS sav, "A constant quantity" and its
amount, SO Ia: from being leSScncd, will in-
crease AS the gas and water pipes arc cX-
tended. Further, with such source OF
income. and this mode of assessing 1t, the
Finance Committee of the Council will
know that this will reach every person
uncu whom the Gas and Water Works
have any claims; and rs the whole
hulthcn of their support will pro-
urrly hrluu. 10 them, when 1t Is nccc>-
sary To make improvements TO either ol
these establishments, instead OF issuing
bonds rs is now done Ill general way,
others Identified in name aud character
with the improvements for the benefit OF
which they are issued, and being euaran-
tced by the appropriation OF the money
arising from the taxes assessed on land for
the specified purpose, an addition to the
sums which are now proposed, sufficient
10 pay the interest and lay aside Il sum every
ycar to form Il sinking fund, Will be easily
made by thr addition Of Il mill, or Il lrac
tIun Vt i mill. L. the amount necessary TO
pay tie cost q. the ordinary operation.
.Fur instance. suppose $4,000 is re-
Quycd for impruvcmemiSa 1T the Gas W orks,
and :; per cent. bonds. to fall due in ten
Years, arc i>sticd. Ey addition OF three
quarters oil Il mill per foot, the income from
lni>. rs the pipes are now laid, would yield
Sl1 800, which would be { per ccntum intc-
rest, and leave $4,000 per annum for a
fund TO redeem them at maturity. This is
cited aS IN extraordinary instance. 1t is
easy TO perceive how susceptible the plan is
oi modification 10 meet every possible con-
tin%cncy.
'.ln addition to the features above de-
scribcd, il is evident that parties who have
vacant lots living idle, waiting for them to
he increased in value hy the industry and
| enterprise OF those around them, and the
| taxes on which have remained stationary
| for mauy years, will, upon hndlnS their
| taxes Increased is ahoyc proposed, bc in
turrd either to improve the same or sell to
those who will do so.
| lit is not to be presumed that the small
amount we have proposed will produce
| >uch = result, hcca,lSc it will not be felt by
any on whom il falls, hut ii the experiment
! j. mate in tie two subjects wo have named,
wr are sure that. succeeding, it will ulti-
| rlyt,.!y be adcntvd Il. ihc only legitimate
1ui ,.rolcr plan 10 obtain i revenue for
yulycrl~. repairs of streets, and lnany other
expenses ut The city.
"Not the least advantage which will re-
suit from the adoption OF this plan Will be
| the simplifying the means OF obtaining the
| extensions oi rlS and water p pes, as iSthe
! case now Will tuiNCiiSs E.Ntl5 oift WIZ
wishes 10 have cutvertrun knows What it
| i TO cost, and can have il or not, rs he
chooses and Thus will it be with gas and
water. Tue annual tax Which, the arrll-
ant " i'll have 10 pay will be known before
hy,;,!. aud those who wish extensions can
| temHGU thrm a rISEt.
| .f objections are made against the plan
prouo>cd because OF lis apparent novelty,
we nave TO claim that this is no argument
| AGAINST it. The principle did not ori ginatc
with uS. but in this and Il different form
| i. wc have been informed. practired in
! many OF The largest cities III the United
states. .
lit cannot hc supposed that subject Of
so much Importance can he appreciated 1t
once. Nc therefore recommend the adop-
tion of the following resolution:
:. Rssolccd. That this report be laid upon
tI,e table until the next meeting Of the
Councll, and that the clerk he directed to
have the same printed, aud copies furnished
10 every member Of the Council Within Il
week from this date.
Res,mrtiuIly submitted,
"TnoMAs Ii. WYNHE, Charmtn.