Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-11-05
LETTER FROM LAWRENCE.

LAWRENCE TowssnIr, Oct. 22d, 1873.
Nh. EDrroR--Iu your issuc VI October Let, you
refer to the numerous complaints from all portions
Of the county, because Of the high rciool tax
which has been assessed the past year. Now, sir,
do not know how IL Is in other parts Of the
county. but IL the people in other districts arc
loaded down with school and road taxes as wo ate
in Lawrence, / should think they we're more than
mortal If they did not complain. Now, will
give you como figures and think you will see
that one hundred per cent comes nearer the raise
On our school and road taxes within the last I've
| years than twenty-five per cent. does BY refer.
ring 10 the school duplicates Of 1sGs-G9 hud
the amounts levied for school and building pur-
purposes to be about s., 100 and 81, ,2sO and in
those two years the unseated tax was n trino over
$500, and the State appropriation about 81 so each
year, making in all, for those two years, tho sum
Of 6,lOo, and BY referring to tho scttlemsnt Of
1869 1 end the school orders all cancelled and
balance due tho school fund Of $780,. Now, for
the school years Of lsT3-7i find tho amounts
levied for 1873 to be something over s., $500, and
for 1874 tribe less and the books shows that the
amount received from unseated lands for Law.
renco district, for those two years, to be over
81 400, and from the State about $3.50, making in
all, for those two years, the sum Of IS, 200. And
by referring to tho last settlement End this dis.
trict paying interest on about 5000. How is that
for one months extra timer Now, sir, ii we take
a view Of the road fund we fnd II in rather
worse condition. II you refor 90 the settlement
Of 1859 / think you will find on the books about
$500 due the Lawrence road fund from unseated
lnnds. Since that timo the valuation on real cs-
tate has been more than doubled and largely
raised on personal property and we have had the
same amount Of mills levied and tho present year
they have run II up three mills higher, and tho
township very largely in arrears. Now, sir, how
is that for high' Why Mr.. Editor, If that Coud
House ring, which they say you have in town and
which has frightened 30 many of late, would run
the finances OF the county on this basis, how long
would il bo until the county would DO bankrupt
do not wish to be understood as charging those
township officers with ombczzlemcnt, but II looks
as though tkert was great extravagance or gross
neglect Of duty In the handling Of the peoples
money. Now, the tar payers Of Lawrence town
ship are hard working and industrious olass Of
men, and arc ever willing TO pay their taxes, and
all thcy ask is that the money drawn from their
hard toll be properly and judciousy expended on
the objects for which Il is levied. There appears
to be a mania got possession OF all officers, from
the highest TO the lowest, that the more of the
peoples money they can dispose Of the better they
are doing their duty but, In all probability,
there will be o fnanc,al crash one Of these days
and think II would be wise for all In authority
to put their house in order 10 meet such event
for, II Il should come, and our taxes at such a
high rate, who, in the name Of Heaven, would bo
able TO meet themi In these fast times Of rail |
roads and iron bridges II may not be thought wise
60 rcirncc our steps, but think Il would be well
to 20 back 10 FIRST principles. Within the last
few yoars there has been many local laws placed
on the statute book, which work great injury 10
the people, among them the ono changing tho
mode Of collecting taxcs by the county treasurer,
and the act creating four supervisors p this town
shin and tho district treasurcr act. All Of thosc
acts, think, It would be we'll TO ask the Legisla
turc to repeal. Tho greatest curse that rcsis on
our county at present 10 that we are governed
and oficcrcd too much. Like tho Egyptian lice,
they arc eating up tie substance Of the people.
A TAX PAYER.
We have but one remark 10 make In reply to
our intelligent correspondent. and that is upon
tho mode Of collecting the county taxes; Instead
Of there being from $1,000 to $4,000 oaistand-
ipp county taxct, In the hands of thirty collect
or,. a. there was under the old system, |, win not
average $1,000 under the new. Look across st
Indiana and Centre counties, where they are work
IN under the old law. (snul the last year In the
former.1 In the former county there was out
.,anaip. in tho hands Of their eollcctors the sum
Of s,2 600 and In the latter county Il was about
sssooo. While in counties Of tho same slic, wherc
our ,ys,om 1.-THE venango system, as tits callcd)
4, in force not one -tcnth that sum remains In the
.ands Of tnc constabics, and but few losses oocw
4, the county, from tho fact that but email sum
remain, cu,r,aoding a, The close Of the year