The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-12-04
TOLEDO, O., Dec. 2. 1874.

EDS. JEFF: Some of the tax-pGy yers
of our city are getting alarmed at the
way our taxes are piling up on the dupli-
cate; and, when comparing with other
cities, begin to see things that alarm
them these close times. And well they
may; .forty-OHe mills OH the hundred
dollars valuation is big item to claim
taxpayers attention twice year, and
there is no remedy but to pay. And this
does not include the various special tax
es OF sewerage. grading, paving of streets
those are extras-but they are very com
mon and very frequent-besides our
City Fathers have allowed the real es
tate agents and spectators and adventu-
rers to run their machine into n sort of
highway robbery style of doing business
that to many looks anything but pleas
ant. For instance, one or mOre-gener-
ally half dozen-will buy a tract of
land, lay it off in streets, avenues, alleys |
and perhaps the half of ii into lots, they
apply to the Council to condemn the |
streets, alleys and avenues, as "a public /
necessity, and committee of three is
appointed to assess tie value of the
lands. which tine city now condemns for
public purposes. Whatever the DANA
ges may be assessed. at the City Fathers
assume the Indebtedness and issue the
bonds of our wealthy city Tor the amount
of damages aforesaid, which is often
more than the entire cost IF the land to
those amiable spectators; and the City
has TO sell the bonds, often at great
discount, to meet the liability, and in
order to get their pay for the bonds thus
issued to these land stock iobbers and
grabbers, they assess the amount on the
lots thus benefited by the streets, and
then wait their sale and the collection
on the Tax Duplicate. Aint that lovely
Nevertheless it is just what, to a certain
extent, runs up the taxes in cities; and
what makes it worse, and helps it along
too, is the fact that many times our city
legislators are not over-careful in guard /
ing the interests of our residents. But
there are some mitigating circumstances
withal. There is no salary attached to {
the Office of the City Fathers; it is all an a
honorary affair, and their time is given +
gratis for the honor of being one of the !,
COuncilmen of Ward No. -. Some are 4
charged with being interested, or having v
special interests. in the various contracts D
being let for grading streets. building =
sewers, etc. etc., which they secure
through their position as Councilmen.
other causes, be they what they may, all
shows that this cheap legislation, or get Vi
ing the vast interests of city seen to Il
)y men without any other reward than -
hose empty bOnOrs of fame, is, TO say p
he very least, extremely questionable. 30
Better. hundred times over, give lib 3.
raj salaries, and invite the very best al
alent of the city to accept those posi-
ions, than TO delegate adventures to do
he legislation at such fearful odds in -
ost. The city's Indebtedness already
0oms up to the tune of several millions
f dollars, and no stop to it yet; its go
~, going. but where. That's it, where. !.
AK paying time approaches, and it's
chool that educates, and no questions !
sked. The public, as well as the friends JoI
[ Mahan, whose disappearance several j
-cefs ago are still unadvised as TO what s..
as become of him, and at last Spirit Ia, "a,
alist. we don't know just what class. a. clio
lere are so many spirits that We don't SIN
now from what class this one halls, Du nai
ut the medium, Tor claims to be one) mr.
I'd in her vision seen Bernard Mahon
and packed in a blue kero-
ne oil barrel, and with heavy stones at r.
ehed, was sunk behind and under a Il
certain dock on Water Street. This, - q
course, had to be investigated. and s
apt. Purdy, Chief of Police. detached or,
officer TO work up the seer's case, '"e Z
Ien. 10, and behold his remains were BAi
t there; but it won't, of course. go to tan,
sprove Spiritualism. No; of course b
t. And this brings to mind one or two the
ventures we have had in necromancy oo1
iich We may divulge some of these N
trfi
les. PHILO. EEs