The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-05-23

- 1kSA0Do~~.D
Aparagragh has been going the round
Of the newspapers that the debt inearre'
by the several counties Of the State ii
aid Of railroad enterprises amounts t
sixty millions Of dollars. We special!
reftsiaed from publishing it because "
did not believe it could possibly be true
Mr.. A. Thoman, Auditor Of State, in
card shows, from the records OF his Of
6ce. that The statement strikes wide ofths
mnrk. He says: ~The full amount o.
bonds issued BY counties, townships and
incorporated cities in this State, for "a"
road.. i.sersal Improvements and funding
isdeSsedaess, in accordance with reports
from all counties exceptthese Jefferson.
Marshall and Washington, is q, SSs,S57)
seven millions, eight hundred and MY
three thousand, nine hundred and hfty'
seven dollars"
We have always considered that the
system Of voting assistance to railroads,
jndiciously exercised, is wise one, and
are glad TO be able to give the statement
Of Auditor Thomas. Tho amount Al
ready expended has done no particular
injury; il has here and there, perhaps
made taxes somewhat higher tor the time
being, but has added prosperity to the
State At large. By the interposition Of
Congress Saline county has . railroad
without having had to pay . dollar tor IT
and with . revenue direct from it Of thou
sands of dollars annually. And it is not
% easy to calculate the large benefits de-
rived from it as an agent in filling up and
improving the country. Only through
the influence and presence of railroads
Kansas would be the arid plains depicted
on our maps OF the few years back. The
voting Of bonds is a measure which the
people can not exercise too carefully,
scan too closely. They may "pay too
dear for their whistler" il may seriously
retard their growth rather than accom-
pIish the good designed, may work for
them an irrcparablc injury. A few pa
pers of the State, with view Of favor
ing reputation in their own counties,
have presented this view Of the case and
have published the sixty-thousand-dollar
item with q good deal of gusto. That
this course Is to be deprecated is not to
be questioned. The amount SO tar voted
in any county to railroad enterprise
is not too large; but where the roads have
boon built has worked MS good-paying
ing investment. Undertaking to beat q
railroad company out Of what legally and
belongs to them is not only
dishonest but weakens the credit of the
State and is an act of injustice to the
newer counties. 1t appears all very nice
after city or county has secured all
the railroads they want to rid themselves
of paying for them on some mere techni-
cal point but it does not exhibit any con-
amount OF honor! Beyond .
few main lines Kansas would have had
no railroads had it not been for county
assistance. She needs others and she
will get them only through the same
medium. Then, it is the duty of every
one to frown down and discountenance
all attempts at reputation. We have
Al - "a "a
can not DO done by legal proceedings.
Our bonded, indebtedness whatever it
10, We may proudly own. 1t is . gift,
and the portion we hand to our posterity
they should b taught to gladly accept.
It 10 . testimonial to the greatness of
Kansas.