Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-05-23
SHALL WE SUBsCRIBE TO "A
RAIL ROADg

SHALL WE SUBSCRIBE TO "A
/ RAIL ROADg
-<Ae-
Mr.. Editor:
i now propose to submit to the readers Of
your paper few figures. relative to the little
!" Credit Mobilier = gotten up by our Extra
Legislative Session, in which our county
commissioners are invited to be stockholders,
4 and we taxpayers Of Gallatin, simply sub
scrDers. fo the correctness of the reasoning
as well as the numerical calculation. / wish
to direct the attention OF the Gallatin county
tax payers. shall make but one assump-
ton, and that is one most favorable to the
friends3o f the MEASURE, namely: that the
road is TO be built within the time prescrib-
ed, and all the conditions OF the proposed
subscription faithfully fulfilled.
i lam informed by our county officials that
our last assessmentsummed up to very near
" million and q quarter, OF 81, 250, 900.
Snpposing that to be the actual valuation
OF Gallatin county at the time the road shall
De completed to Helena, fifteen per cent. of
| that sum will be the amount to be issued in
Galiatin county bonds, or $ls7 800 in bonds,
payable in thirty years, but the intrest on
which, at the rate Of seven per cent. is pay
able every year for that time. which amounts
to only thirteen thousand one hundred and
| Twenty-Five dollars every year.
Now, the population Of Gallatin county, by
| the census OF 1870 is fifteen hundred and
seventy-nine souls. Distributing this annual
interest occount equally among them. it will
be only eight dollars aud thirty-one cents to
every man, woman and child. h
But II this debt draws seven per cent. for
one year, for the thirty years it will draw
two hundred and ten per cent. simple in
trest; in other words, it will draw thirty
times thirteen thousand one hundred and
twenty-five dollars, which is three hundred
and ninety-three thousand seven hundred
and fifty dollars of interest, alone; add the
orr. inal debt and we lave paid five hundred
and eighty-one thousand two hundred and
fifty dollars, or three hundred and sixty-eight
dollars to every man, woman and child OF our
present population.
But my opponent may say. sour popula-
ton will increase-our taxable property will
increase-the value of all OF our real property
will be enhanced ~ Ianswer-snppose it
does; upo. what ought our calculations to
be made Upon what we have, or upon
what we have not? Let fanatics, Missionaries
and fools draw largely upon their imagira-
ton; but let us who are engaged in the
sober business of living, and acting, and
toiIing-we who have left dear and distant
homes in part 10 avoid heavy taxatioH-who,
by our labor, hardship and. priyation have
made these valleys Eabitable, productive and
attractive, let US reason upon the question
let us make business calculations, and look
upon this railroad question from the stand-
point OF our own resources, md not be 80
ooilsh as to incur debt OF such enormity, |
the hope and expectation, and With the
ntentlon that somebody else will come along |
md pay it for us! But, on this subject WI
lave more TO say hereafter.
Let me illustrate these proposed terrific ex-
'enditures by an individual instance. Take
ny neighbor. Mr.. Brown-Brown is ranch
aal, q hard working fellow, married. has ],
wise little wife and two healthy children;
nd Is taxed upon two thousand dollars worth
property. Brown and wife, moreover. in
sna % stay Aere-they don't propose to
lofIgage the country tor a railroad to oct |
way upon; they are not OF that dastardIy. :
onteInptable. hiking nature. Their little
,rin is their Eden, and they propose to run !.
, to pay their honest debts. taxes among ,
theirs, and be honorable and respectable.
roWn has at my request taken his slate and J,
encil and calculated from the Standpoint Of
IS resources, ard here are bis figures His :
.aabie property is $1,000; 10 per cent. IS !,
roposed for railroad. $500; the simple in
rest on this for thirty years focts up to | /
30; Browns railroad debt is then $3.50. s
vt Brown sees that he will have to pay the n
terest part as he goes along. and If it is =
orth something to ''any such = compa v, q
is worth something to limit is worth t
ven per cent. So that it Is equal to putting t,
s railroad debt OF $500 on compound in
rest, tor thirty years, to be computed an
tally. Now, one dollar at compound inferast
r thirty years, will amount to seven dollars. ~
xty-ofe cents and two mills. His 5000 a
mounts to $2,2,S4 GOT This is his net :.
i!road debt. He has not had time TO follow .
, the expenses Of the offers, agents and
anipulalors who will have to be paid ali .,
ong, but all he does see for this outlay is \ :
tie one horse tramway, leading from Hele-
someWhere-tle cars SO small that twelve
otlumber will require two cars to carry it .,
at a common piano boxed up will fiji one !.
#, which amount of rolling stock will trans :
'rt one old mare and her colt. He sees the
gines too weak and slender to keep.the track h,
ear from any little skiff of snow, and finds :. =
mself showed in every winter as he is now, y
ID comes to the conclusion that he had bet Ii
+ subsidize Rieh's mule train. $40 Nt7s3l W
/ IA b#a 5iSs.Bsasis ID. DAVIS. j.
Madison County Items. ee
b
Something Ike forty docket cases were ca
sposed Of by Judge servis during the. term is
the District Court, which closed on satur- fr