Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-03-18

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) road and all its appurtenances, yet they
: have in a majority OF cases, been pullt
! by the State--at least the State has con-
triouted TO great extent TO their COM
, pletion. They charge higher rates OF
ireights and passage Il an steamers, and
yet we favor them by discriminating in
every way possible against steamboats,,
The question may be asked, how are the
/ wharves 70 be kept in repair if no wharf
age is collected from steamboatsY Ny
answer is, there are two ways, the first
of which is the right way, and that is by
general taxation for that purpose. The
second method is that provided for in
this bill, which is TO grant certain por-
ton of the wharf to the owner or owners
of a steamer, providing they kept that
portion in repair. The first is just; the
second is not wrong because it is vol
untary act and for special considera-
tiop.
Steamboat property is taxed for rail
road purposes; why should not railroads
be taxed for steamboat purposes ?
Should this bill become law, as 1t justly
should, while it may take from the towns
and cities of the State situated on the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers an un-
just revenue, it will bring 10 the State
more than they lose, and TO st. Louis in
particular; for when other States learn
that Missouri has abolished the infamous
wharfage tax, they, too, will follow suit;
and then the immense sums paid by our
citizens TO other States as wharfage, will
be invested in our State in different
ways, and / have every reason to be-
lieve in the building Of iron steamers
and barges, thereby, in short time, Civ
ing the people of this State farther re-
duction in freights and passage, so
essentially necessary to its prosperity
in the first place that she may get her
immense iron deposits and the produc-
tons of her soil to market and receive
that of other States in return, enabling
us, ere long, to furnish the manufactured
iron for this country, and, perhaps, turn
the tide to the shores of the old world
| We are all, | trust, interested in the
progress of the State, and in her pro-
gress we desire her to be successful; in
looking for the means to further our an
i ticipations we dc not all see alike. We
should not only develop our mineral re-
sources, but encourage manufactures
aud foster commerce We need rail
roads to open up our State and bring TO
our metropolis the produce Of her soil
and the wealth of her mines, and then
by the aid Of our mighty rivers to scat
ter them over the face of the earth. A
glorious future awaits Missouri, but it
will not be hastened by exacting an un-
Just tax from her marine interest. Mem
bers will Der in mind that this bill asks
for no appropriation, it only asks for re-
lief, it takes nothing that rightfully be-
longs to any one away from them; it
rather seeks 10 equalize matters for those
who live on railroads by natural and
healthy competition; it tends to develop
the resources of our State and to build
a new system Of steamers and barges,
and give encouragement TO iron manu-
factnrers and mechanics. Steamboats,,
though they cannot, like railroads, pay
taxes to each county, yet they go as far
in proportion to supply the revenue of
the State.
There are now two important bills
before the General Assembly for the
benefit of railroads-one to pay Mr..
Thomas Allen one million dollars; the
other for the State to give eighteen mil
lions to certain railroads in the State.
Here we find, as | said before, the citi-
zens ever ready to assist any railroad
measure, to build and equip them, and
afterwards pay exOrbitant rates of
freight aud passage; give millions a
year. Yet, when another class of pub
lie servants come asking nothing but
justice, the prospect is that it will be
denied them. The city of st. Louis is
anxious to have all the railroad facilities |
she possibly can, and does not hesitate !
to tax steamboats, for that purpose, but |
does not appear willing to tax railroads |
for the benefit of steamboats, to the ex-
tent OF paying their portion for the
keeping up OF the public wharf, which
is used by railroads for their benefit as
well as by the steamers. We give rail- |
roads the right Of way through the
State, through its cities and towns, with
no other compensation than that de-
rived from the accommodation of hav-
ing a railroad. Homes around which
have clustered the happy memories of
childhood have been ruined, even the
sacredness of the graves of loved ones
have been violated, farms divided in
twain, entailing on the poor, hard work
ing owner an extra expense for fencing
and the protection of his stock, COM
pelling him to haul his produce miles
to a station, and then compelling him to
pay exorbitaut rates to get his produce
to market; all to satisfy the voracious
demand OF railroad companies.
Such is not the case with steamboats,;
they will land at our towns and farms
wherever the water will permit, go out of
the course of the regular channels
among dangerous snags and breaks,
over shoal bars, and through intricate
channels to accommodate the producer,
the merchant, manufacturer and to rem
der efficient the commercial interest of
our State. No such accommodation do
the public receive from railroads; you
cater t. the accommodation of railroads.
The steamboats, cater to your accommo-
dation. At st. Loais there is now in
course of construction the finest bridge
in the world; portion of it occupies a
part of the wharf, for which steamboats,
have paid BY wharfage tax. A con-
siderable space north and south of the
bridge has been granted by the city for
the use of the bridge company free OF
cost. When the bridge is completed
steamboats, cannot, at certain stages of
the river, pass under without construct
ing their chimneys for that purpose.
Here again we find the steamboats, taxed
for the benefit OF railroads And it is
now contemplated to build another
bridge e Carondelet to further inter
rupt the navigation OF the Mississippi,
and endanger the lives and property Of
steamboatmen, all for railroads.