The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-05-28
TIE UNION PACIFIC R. z.

Mr. Sidney Dillon, the new President oil
the Union Pacific Railroad, has visited ON
aha in his official capacity" hence the edi-
tors. real estate owners and E,,r =.
town await anxiouSly 10 her .,..Lt Air. Dill
lon intends 10 do, for be it known that the
man who controls the Union Pacific Rail
way also holds the deo.inies Of Omaha in his
grasp.
The editor OF The Zee mustered up sui
licient courage TO call on him, and gives the
following as condensed expression OF
President Dillen's views:
lie expressed himself satisfied with Union
Pacific matters generally, in Omaha; the Of
ficers were all alive i'm the execution of their
duties: the shops were in excellent condition,
and were being splendidly managed.
But he found great fault with Omaha and
Douglass county, for taxing the bridge so,
600 per annum, $4,000 for city tax, and
$4,000 for county tax. He il was, he said,
who gave Omaha that bridge. He had the
controlling vote which would locate it either
at Bellevue or AT Omaha. He voted in favor
of Omaha and she got it. Had she lost his vote
she wonld never have amounted to any
thing. MIR. Dillon was emphatic in this con-
nection, and seemed TO have considerable
feeling in regard to it. He also blamed
Representative Crounse for his action in hav-
ing the Union Pacific lands taxed, lands to
which they had not vet obtained patent
from the government. He called II stab
at the road.
Mr., Dillon is OF the opinion that the Con-
gressional action in regard to the bridge and
terminus question will never amount TO any
thing. He believes that is matter which,
ii ever settled, will be decided by the courts,
which he regards as higher authority than
himself. All Mr.. Dillon wants is TO have
the bridge question let alone TO take Its own
course, il may be. TO the courts. 1t is some
thing he has not the power, although having
the inclination, 10 decide.
OF course Mr.. Dillon does not relish the
idea of the Union Pacific being obliged to
pay taxes on lis property. No doubt he
thinks that the road, since il was built with
out expense to the company, and handsome
" endowed With lands besides, should also
be exempt from the burdens of taxation. 1t
seems from the conversation that Mr.. Dillon
gave Omaha the bridge, and Omaha, the un-
grateful child of the generous corporation,
turns about and levies tax of $4,000 on
the structure. Worse than ever, Nebraska 5
representative in Congress, the Hon. Mr..
Crounse, ably supported the Kansas delega-
ton in getting Law passed taxing lasd.. for
which railroad companies have not taken out
patents. Mr. Dillon calls this law stab at
the road.r No difference Whist the President
of the onion Pacific may call ii, the Law in
question is one Of the bet ever passed By
Congress, for it places the property Of cor
porations on an equality with that Of indi-
viduals. 1t means in a word that the rail-
roads shall not escape taxation by re-
fusing to take out patents on the land given
them by Congress. II the roads desire to
escape the heavy burdens Of taxation, let
them surrender their ~broad acres to the
government. Many thousand settlers stand
ready to 60 upon thel land, improve it. and
pay taxes accopaing To- The worth Of sheiI
farus "a 1he inpsoreWents thereon