Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-29

1T appears that the late hepuOn-
can Legislature Of Arkansas tried its
hand at constructing ''batering rams"
The State has been laid of into
four congressional districts, the first Of
which contains population of 92,10S; the
second, 122,646 the third, 144 S32; the
fourth, l24, 800. This is bad gerrymaD-
der, and was made in the interest of the
Republican party, but strange to say, none
Of the Tennessee Republican journals have
heard of these Republican "battering rams"
In every instance, where the Republicans
had majority in the Legislature, they have
redistricted the State in the interest Of their
party, but our Republican journals have no
fault to find with such conduct.
TIE report of the Massachusetts Railroad
Commissioners shows that il costs about
twice as much to run cars for way business
as for through. 1t costs, it is said, just as
much to load hitch to, unhitch from and
unload q car rUn only from one station to
another, as for the whole length of the
road. This necessita:es higher charges pro-
portionately for short distances, but an I'M
fair discrimination is complained of in the
West, where the rate for grain from Chica-
pounds. Corn from Peoria, u.s., to New
York, much greater distance, is 55 cents
per 100. Differences like these create
greater dissatisfaction than the higher
charges for short or way routes.
THE net decline in stocks in twenty-four
hours in New York about ten days ago, is
estimated at Seuen and halt millions Of
dollars Some persons lost this sum, and
yet there were few failures, proof of how
little influence stock losses and gains have
on legitimate business. Such an amount of
loss in dry goods, groceries or on any other
commodity Of legitimate traffic, says the
Philadelphia Ledger, would have been felt
in all the large cities,s and probably have
swamped dozen houses. This fact points to
one of the safe guards against any financial
c.isis now, which, if it comes at all, mus
be provoked by the heavy liabilities of the
great corporations Those who lose by the
failures of companies to meet their liabili-
ties are mostly parties who are free from Ii
abilities themselves, consequently the loss
necessarily stops with themselves, and, as
the rule is unfelt by others.
TAXATION AND IMMIGRATION.
IL has been urged as reason why lInIll-
grafton does not flow more rapidly into our
State that our taxes are so enormously high
as to, scare people awa7 from our borders.
This is not the true cause, for our taxes are
not 50 high as those of Western States, into
which there is a constant stream of emil
grants pouring. For instance, in 1872, tax
alton in Nebraska, for all purposes, for each
$1,000, was $l0SS; Kansas, $14.I5; Missou-
ri Sl0.S2; Tennessee, S6.79-ratio Of taxa
ton per capita Nebraska, $685. Missouri,
SS.OS; Kansas, S7.3S; Tennessee, s.. 60.
Our tax according to population is low as
compared with the other States. Where
the shoe pinches Tennessee farmers the
most is in the small area they have
In first class pastures and meadows.
The farmer who has fifty or sixty acres of
good bluegrass and orchard grass pasture
that costs him next to nothing, on which
to raise valuable stock, has the means to
pay his taxes which farmer without any
grazing does not and cannot possess. With
ak million acres under the plow, Tennes-
see should have nine million in grass equal
70 the best in KENTUCKY or any Northern
State. A tax on property that is really
productive is little felt; but tax on 100 or
1000 acres of land that yields no income is
moth to the owner, although the vaua-
.s. ~ t;on be not high. Vacant lots in city
staDd in The same Improbable condition.
Ratter lease on long time at a low ground
rent, if the owner be not aole 70 improve
.il- such property, or is unwilling TO sell II Oh
terms to command purchase