The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-21
Editor New Orleans Bulletin:

The letter Of "Malthus," opposing the tax
ing Of real estate for railroad purposes, pub
lished in yesterdays BULLETIN, have read
with good deal Of interest I think he takes
O wrong view of the matter What are the
facts? Ever since the close of the war there
has been steady emigration to Texas; the
population of the State has been tripled, and
our trade with that State should have been in
creased in like proportion, but instead
thereof it is largely diminished At least
four-fifths of our Arkansas trade has left us.
One-half of the North Louisiana trade has
departed. What has been the cause? Want
Of cheap and reliable transportation. When
the rivers controlled the business we had all
the trade, but the world has moved during
the last seven years, and New Orleans has not
kept pace with the times. Our old avenues
are not reliable. The North and the great
West have opened new lines of communica-
ton and transportation that we never dream
ed of.
We have been silent lookers-on, standing
with our arms folded, utterly helpless to re-
trieve our failing condition. Why? Be-
cause the affairs of our city and State have
carpet-baggers, scallawags and irresponsible
men, who have no interest in our city or
State and whose mission here was to pilfer
and steal all they could, and retire to their
homes with a competency or fortune such
ss they never could have acquired by honest
industry or lAudable enterprise among those
where they we're best known.
Enough money has been stolen since the
advent OF Warmoth, A. D., 1868, to have
built railroad to Houston, one direct to
Dallas, and one to Shreveport, and have
opened our ires of communication through
North Louisiana into the very heart of Arkan-
Tho1 Civ 1ory; oil hoo tod
inumerable charters for railroads, navigation
companies, companies for the improvement
Of our rivers, canals and harbors. What have
all these charters amounted to? Simply the
issue Of bonds-many of them fraudulent
that have been sold and the money put in the
pockets of the incorporators and the members
of the Ring" who were instrumental in
having these bills passed by corrupt Legisla-
ture.
What is our condition now? We find our
selves taxed to pay interest on bonds issued to
railroad companies and other swindling cor
porations, who have never given dollar as
other words, we have been hugely swindled.
We are now at last awake to our situation. 1t
is one of peril, and one that should cause the
stoutest heart to shudder Another six years
like the past will be bankruptcy and beggary.
How are we to avert it? By united effort to
to overthrow the reign Of carpet-baggers,
scalawags, thieves and all others who have
been plundering us. And hard as it is to bear.
even to tax our property one-haf its value, If
necessary to open our lines Of trade and to re-
store our beloved city to its once proud and
prosperous condition. Let us overthrow the
thieves who have been plundering us.
Let us have peace. Peace will bring pros
perity. Peace will bring back capital. The
Loft come
back again. Our vast railroad system will be
inaugurated and carried out We will not
feel the small railroad tax, for with an honest
and intelligent city administration, we can not
only pay it, but in the end will pay less than
we are doing, and receiving nothing for what
we pay Yours, respectfully
A PRopKRrY HOLDER