Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-07-26
West Tennessee and the New
State-Facts and Figures.


States since their first settlement,
which has been always more intimate
than with the other parts of their
own States, SO much so indeed that
the railroads were built upon the
general line of the old dirt road
travel-it at once strikes the mind
that the only thing lacking in it's
unity already is matter Of form. But
true 10 the American character,
wherein every person feels himself to
be a part of the Government, and
that its concerns are his-(an idea
probably yet lingering from the i'm
pressiOns of early yOuth)-a good
omen, too, and prognOsticates the pro-
per management Of the affairs of the
State when fOrmed-our people are
inquiring as to what viii be the effect
of the success of the project in q
financial point of view. A State
House and Penitentiary must be
built, which will be incarring expense
for things which we already possess.
This is true, and is theoaly objec-
ton which We have heard urged
the advantages claimed are admitted.
1t is not dOubtingly, but with that
confidence which the logic Of facts
combined with past experience en-
thuses that we say, as a money trans
action we will be very greatly the
gamers. The West Tennessee pOr-
ton of the State win have to assume
and pay its proper proportion Of the
State debt unaidsd by the kentucky
or Mississippi fractions, and of course
as regards their States, they win have
to do the same.
Our State debt is now $40, 0O0, 900,
of which our fair proportion would
probably be 7-20ths, or $1,000, 900,
The question then is, can we not pay
the 81, 10000 under our Own manage
ment and financiering eGsieT-fOr we
propose to show not only that We will
not be damaged, but be actual gain
ers-than we can under the manage
ment of the State of Tennessee. In
the past we have had very little to do
except to hand over the money to be
handled by officers elected from Mid
die and East Tennessee.
There are in East Tennessee 6, 099,
1856 acres of land; in Middle Tennes-
see 10, 253, 400 aud in West Tennessee
only 6, 569, 663. In 1871 the State tax
in East Tennessee amounted to $685.
1876 90, and in 1872 to $215, 1916 80, o
decrease of GIL, 759 20. In 1871 the
State tax in Middle Tennessee amount
ed to 1856, 1896 AZ, and in 1872 to
S4S2, AGO %, q decrease of $227, 187 80.
In 1871 the State tax in West Tennes-
see amounted to 1888, 438 %, and in
1872 to 1891, 67S 10, a decrease of
| $19l, 700 03. This decrease of taxa
ton in 1872 was owing to the lesser
rate OF tax in the latter year, but ii
will be observed that the decrease in
West Tennessee was o great deal less
in proportion than in either of the
other divisions of the State, for while
the taxable value OF property in East
Tennessee, decreased 1854, Alb 90, in
1872, and in Middle Tennessee it de-
creased $5,406,O7 90, it increased
the same year in West Tennessee
$579, 832 90. The total income from
privileges in East Tennessee in 1872
was $55, 561 81, in Middle Tennessee
$172, 106 AZ, and West Tennessee
1852, 759 90, West Tennessee paying
within less than $4,000 of what
Middle Tennessee paid. And in sean
ming these figures recollect that West
Tennessee has less area than East
Tennessee by over one and . half mil
lions of acres and three and three
fourth millions less than Middle Ten.
nesses.
While the Middle Division nay be
self supporting, it is notorious that
the Eastern has not been for twenty
years or more, and therefore West
Tennessee is taxed at 8 much hiRhes
rate than would be necessary had she
only to pay her proper proportion OF
the State expenses. To illustrate,
East Tennessee, paying the least
amount by a very considerable sum,
has in it thirty-one counties in which
the courts and necessary officers are
kept up, while West Tennessee, has
only nineteen-CrOckett not then hAV-
ing been formed-and paying nearly
as much as Middle Tennessee with
thirty-fiVe counties, and the oompari
son presents a much greater eOntrast
even than this when we look to the
school fund, which we pay in the same
proportion We paid near $12,O 900
more than double what East Tennss
see did, in 1672-which was, in East
Tennessee. in property tax, S215,.
S75 so, and privilege tax S55, 561 81
making S271, 1897 II; in West Tsnnss,
see property tax, 1891, 67s 10, and
privileges s162, 1853 90, making 1854,
437 4S, while they get more from
school fund than we do.
In the Northwestern States the
school tax is about two per cent. on
the 800, and the people of this State
seem to be going il the same direc.
ton. Had our school tax in 1875
have been two per cent, West Ten.
nsssse wonld have paid on that &C.
count 81, 762, l57 40 and East TennOs-
soc only 81 ,359, $50 So; West Fennes.
see, therefore paying over one million
dollars more than that Division, and
yet because their scholasti popula-
ton is greater than ours, they would
receive out of that fund near q nil-
lion more than We would, 8 dihsrsnce
of something like two million of dol.
lars to us.
In other words we would hsYs paid
more than a million of dollars into
East Tennessee--she keeping all
which she paid-for the schooling Of
her children, and as Middle and East
Tennessee always have controlled the
Estate Government, il ia bat reaseRs-