The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-04-02
For the EAGLE.
Lincoln Township on Bridges.

80 WUcil saiu tHlouSu tlIc toi""ih'
the EAGI T. on the pending bridge prop
osition from all sections seemingly
throughout the county. and you very
generously offer your valuable space
for it, free discussion. both for and
against. think will say a few words
in behalf of this portion Of the county.
Now. II understand Tie proposition,
we are 10 vote on April 9TH for five
bridges, TREE over The Great Arkan-
sas and two over the Little Arkansas
rivers. and the Jail. making an aggre-
gate of bonds 10 be voted Of $4,000,
according 10 estimates. We'll, let us
see what we are going TO pay for our
bridges. FiitN-siX thousand dollars
in bonds, annual interest for ten wears
at ten per cent. per annuin amounts TO
500, 900: yearly appropriations by the
said bridges, taking the ten years by
average, will amount 10 not less than
ST 600. Then we have at tho end Of
ten wears all told cost for the five
bridges of Sl22. 900. At the end of ten
wears We would have frail structure
of bridge, subject to be condemned
as unsafe to cross. The moment they
are condemned, that moment, through
urgent demands OF the times, we would
want to vote again for iron bridges,
and vote we would, regardless Of the
cost. We have just paid $l22,000 for
the five wooden ones, now no more.
Then, such, they say. is life III new
countries. and TO follow with the cur
rent signifies prosperity, until we reach
that awful financial abyss that still re-
mains unfaihomed. Oh, for tongue
to tell of our many prayers, OF our
many sorrows. | see it stated in former
communications that the increase of
debt would only increase our taxes
one and one-half or two mills on the
dollar, and as the valuation increases,
this one and a half and two mill tax
decreases. But look here, readers of
the EAGLE, we must remember that
every mill tax we burden this county
with now will be felt much greater
than the debt we have already in
creased proportionately What is its
results: Why it must necessarily fol-
low that, with bonded debt Of the
county of $4,000 with the innumera-
bic school bonds already and being
issued. it so increases taxes that emf
gratis continue their line Of march on
westward until they do reach that
county where there is but little tax.
They invariably say they left beat
tiful and well cultivated country in
pressure tax. This certainly is no in
duccmet for capitalists to locate here;
taxes four and one-half and five and
onc-half per cent. in the city, and in
many school districts in the county it
is six and seven per cent. Yet we say
we cannot do without schools. Not
very well.
Under these circumstances, can any
one tell me the length of time II would
take TO increase the taxable property
from the present $4,000 TO $4,000 in
this county? In my way of seeing this
and my experience leads me to believe
il will take about twenty-five years
before we would reach this 100000
valuation. The first few wears the value
would decrease.
As to the new law regulating the
voting of bonds, will just say that
nine chances out of ten the Legislature
/ in 1873 will repeal this law among it'
first acts. Why, even if il did not, oul
representative could have a special act
put al r. % the legislative mill FOL
our individual case in this county
We would be much pleased out here
to have one or two small bridges bull
at the county's expense; but then w
don't think il would be acting in goot
faith with the rest of the county. y
the matter stands now, we are left on
in the cold, except the Jail, which
think we need badly as n general ben
eft to the county, though at the SAM
time, | think 10 issue the bonds of tE
county now we would be acting yer.
unwisc indeed. Our bonds ccrtainl,
ought to bring more than scvcnty-iiy
cents on the dollar. and presume the,
would in flush times but now Their
is little or no market ut all for them
We are alive 10 our interests in thi
part of the county, and TO us 4 gift b.
nature, self interest first, then come
the small interest for ourali. As L
the consistency of voting bonds now
we fail TO see il. and deem il 4 yer
unwi>e act on the part Of any Ia
pavcr at the present time. We vii
therefore. through instincts of OF
welfare, oppose them.
This part Of the county j. settling
up as fast As one might expect. Mos
of the farmer, are already blowing, AM
should we have a favorable season
there will be an unlimited amount o
grain raised throughout this section
Cattle are looking fine, having passed
through the winter in good condition
losing but very few.
hope. Mr. Editor. you Will cxcus
me this time for infringing on YOU
valuable space. Thanking you kindly
| am Yours. LINCOLN.
For the EAGLE.
The Bridge Bonds.