The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-08-05
TAXATION AND THE RAILROAD

I In our issue Of the I'D uIt., we IL
Illustrated the effects which the grant
ing of the Railroad subsidy OF S9Op'
600 would have upon our taxation IL
the property of the Parish renamed
at it's present valuation. But IN all
the Railroads composing the 1o,ooo
miles of Railroads in the united
States. there is not an instance III
which the real estate, within SIX
miles of the Road, has not advanced
from five to one hundred dollars per
acre, and the property of the coun-
ties increased from five to tentold IN
value. These facts are, however,
matters of statistics and their trnth
is easily ascertained as the average
price of cotton and sugar for q series
of years, and we beg those who are
sceptical to make the investigation
before they refuse to lend their aid
ill securing the Road. 1t is a matter
If interest too vital to be decided ig-
norantly, when it can be decided IN
diligently. We are prepared at
present to show the effect OF the DO
nation on taxation, under the en-
HANGED value impaired to property by
the Railroad.
There are within six miles of the
Road through this Parish 100000
acres of land, besides the real estate
in Alexandria, Cheneyville and Pine
vile. This land on an average is
not worth at present five dollars pei
acre, which would be $1,750,0O0. Il
the value of this land was doubled, ii
would add $1,75O,OO0 to our wealth
+ if trippled $3,5oO,00o, if quadruplet
: 1850, 900, if quintrepled $o,Io0,Oo'
; and so on. In no instance has
Railroad connecting two great com
: mercial points, addedless than fv'
times their original value to land
within six miles Of the Road and to-
d norton an hundred times; there ar
g not many Roads connecting two NOR
h important commercial points thai
y New Orleans and Northwestern lex
# as. But let US suppose that IN tn
n first year the value Of land would b
p doubled, the second tripled, the thlr
1t oaadrupled and the fourth quiz
II trepled, but for the purpose of our
r lustration, let US take the end OF tn
rs second year. We then have $4,000
g 900, added to the present value vi
Of $50, 900, making S5,25O,OOO. W
Up must add to this the increased valu
lg of real estate in Alexandria, Chene,
ne vile and Pineville, 100000. Ihel
n will be doubtless brought to the Ia
ly ish stocks of goods to the extent
IS 81 100000 more than at present, al
v! at least S2,5OO,000 in work stoc
is wagons, etc., making in all $7,Ooo,OO
at and this will not include even Il
en- present value of the large amount
lands beyond six miles from T.
Road, much less it's enhanced Walt
" which will not be less than % P
u cent. But we leave this out of CO
" sideration, to ensure our estlma
" against exaggeration, and witho
VII this consideration there is still q
~ other value to be added. The Ia
~ road itself, which will be 81, 25O,O(
' u making our assessment $S,29o,o'
'"e instead of the present amount OF y
'"' 100000. We might add to this
ns' hundreds of mechanics, doctors, la
w yers, druggists, merchants, dray-m'
'n' laborers and others, whose Occur
~ tons are taxed in this model Fl
'ns Government, but even these we v
'eii omit to make our estimate the MI
'@0 sure. To pay s21, 900 on our pres,
efs assessment requires about 81 mi
We on the dollar, but on $S,25O,000
NO would require but 9! mills On
- lollar, and over one-third of t
'i' W, ,uld be paid by the property bous
- in +, he Parish, AS estimated, this
ed an m, Ter estimate. One-ffth of {
af- nresent tax is paid by tax on prof
no sions ana occupations, and can q
' one doubt that the number OF tn
ng H liable et to such Wi be more than gu
we rup]ed? Can my ore doubt t
lis Alexandria, now 'iven over to 70 dec &c
IRE will then be a fouri> ShiAg e.'y' - L.
not every owner of /. ana , 1eei: ' l'o
he was certain that tn. $ l\oao W.
be built, he would not ia. <e louI ~. Il
M what he would now be will ing 70 v
ew for his land? Does he not Der nc,
oh would be better for him to 6. We =
,u+ third Of his land and have q ho
=. than to keep the whole withol'
:. Road? and yet how much greater
IS one-third of his land, than his p
ty, portion of $4,000? Does not eve
,at one believe that instead of the va
he of the property of the Parish bel
49, 100000, it would in five years
" $40, 100000, and our taxes on tt