The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-10-24

LOUISVILLE and Nashville ROAD.
Railroads which have only small in
debtedness always pay, if they are
well built and have good connections,
as is the case with most of the rail
roads in Georgia. For this reason
there should be as little Indebtedness
on the part of railroad companies as
possible, and on that account the
cheap railroads are so much more apt
to be profitable than the more costly
and expensive ones.
OBJECTION SIxTH-Poor men
should not vote a railroad tax upon
rich men.
ANswER-Poor men who are la
borers create the wealth of the coun-
try, and have right to vote in any
election. IF the railroad subscrip-
ton Injuries the country, it will injure
them; if it benefits the county
it will benefit them, and therefore
they have as good a right to vote as
any person.
OBJECTION SEvENTH-The pres
ent railroads are monoplies and charge
too much for freight and passage.
ANswER-If this be true those
who oppose the building of other and
competing roads are playing into the
hands of these monoplies, and giving
them strength and power. The only
way to destroy these monopolies, if
monopolies they be, is to build other
and cheaper roads, which will make
them reduce their charges. The men
who oppose the building of other rail-
roads are practically the firmest
friends of railroad monopolies, and are
doing most to keep them up and give
them Overshadowing power.
The articles now wasted on the
farms because they have no market
would pay the whole amount of the
County subscription.
OBJECTION Observation-Disclosures,
while they increase the value of lands,
do not increase their productiveness,
and therefore are of no practical ben
eft.
Observation-Disclosures increase the
value of lands because they increase
the value of the productions of these
lands, by reducing the cost of trans
portation, and therefore they are Of
practical benefit.
OBJECTION NINTH-It will throw
wagoners out Of employment.
ANswER. This is not true, wag-
oners will have far more to do than
they now have in hauling iron
ore, pig metal, tan bark and thous-
and other things to the railroad.
The business and productiveness of
the country will be so much increased
as to create demand for more wag-
ons hauling shorter distances and at
better prices. Such is the uniform
experience of all other countries.
OBJECTION TENTH-The building
of railroads is not q legitimate subject
of taxation.
ANswER-The Supreme Court of
the United States, in the case of
Olcott vs.. Fond Du Lac County,
Justice Strong delivering the opinion,
says
"If there be any purpose for which
taxation would seem to be legitimate,
it is the making and maintenance of
been governmental affairs, ard it has
ever been recognized as one of the most
important duties of the State to provide
and care for them"
OBJECTION ELEvENTH-By issu-
ing bonds having twenty years to run
and bearing eight per cent interest
you make the people pay large
amount in interest.
ANswER-The twenty year bonds
may be paid at any time and the in
terest on them stopped. Any indi-
vidual that does not wish to pay in
terest can buy a bond amounting to
his part of the subscription, and this
will pay his taxes and also the princi-
pal when it becomes due. Each man
that wishes can stop the interest by |
paying his part of the principal.
The issuing of the bonds is intended |
as a benefit because in that way the
lew corners into the county and its
increased wealth will assist in paying
he subscription. For instance, a
county now worth three millions of
lollars, issues bonds to the amount
# (S300,000) three hundred thousand
dollars; this is ten per cent of the tax
lble property Of the county, but
when the roads are built that county
viii be worth six millions of dollars,
nd that will only be FIVE per cent Of
is taxable property. The taxes, in
tead of being increased, will be re-
.uced by the building of the roads.
A county or an individual that
oes not wish to pay interest can stop
be interest by paying the principal
t any time.
OBJECTION TwELFTR-I do not
-ish to vote tax on others without
heir consent.
ANswER-In voting for railroad
Inscription you are not voting tax, |
ut blessing on your neighbors. I
hey will save more by the railroads !
lch year in cheap transportation '
ian they will pay. They will give 9
.uch more than they will have to :
Az and instead ofa burden il will be \