The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-12-09

called or or expected to pay for the len
eft of whoIe community, and hence it
is argued that a tax on the entire prop
erty and pols ought to be imposed as
most agreeable to every principle of
justice.
tits scarcely to be argued that the
road will not greatly benefit THIS place.
The history of this place alone is an an
swer to the argument in 1875, just be-
fore the Central road was built town lots
il Bolivar were assessed at SOS, $1,000;
Ia lS64-65 they were assessed at $685.
10000 in I874-75 their taxable value was
put down at $3.50, 2O3.O0. During the
last ten years same increase of $780,
2O3,00.
What has produced this change. The
same is the history of jackson, Browns
vile, HumbolIt, Milan, and many other
places in West Tennessee. Bolivar is
situated about half way between the
Mississippi and Tennessee rivers, and
becomes a most suitable place for the
shops of the railroad on he western di-
vision. This alone would be worth
half million dollars to Bolivar and pro-
mote the local trade of the place i'm
meDsely. 1t becomes a junction of two
important roads, one North and South
and the other East and West, giving ad-
ditional facilities for trade, factories and
machinery Of all kinds. The mere fact
Of reducing freights by being in competi-
ton not only railroads, bat also the two
principle rivers Of the State-nayigable
all the year round, and equi distant
from Bolivar being about fifty miles.
These are facilities which in the hands
Of wise and energetic people gives an
boun led opportunities, TO build up a cen
tire of trade Of large proportions The
tax is not a heavy one, even if the pop
ulation and property of Bolivar is not in
creased which is hardly possible-$30 :
600 payable in twenty years, by actual
calculation would not at any time ex
coed more than 20 ccnte in the one hun
dFed dollars, and as the bonds are re
tired would in fact become less than the
tax now of 40 cents. But gentlemen
forget thatby means of the sinking fund
, proposed these bonds are constantly be
ing paid off, and thus the annual tax di
minished-Besides this is not a bonus
gIveE to the road, but the corporation
receives stock in return for these bonds
| may be answered-why Railro ad stocE
nsver pays anything and this is a most
specious argument. In reply let me frs
remark, that only those roads which be
came crippled by the results of the wal
requiring vast expenditures in repairs
/ for which the roads went in debt--hava
! failed to pay dividends. This can easily
] be understood-but few if any new road
and particularly any cheap road as mar
row-gauges have failed to pay dividend
or profits The writer asserts this as
general truth of TIE new Railroads no
burdened by old debts. Let those WIZ
use this argument against Railroad
show the exceptions if any. Then thi
stock we contend is not loss to the COZ
poration-but if not at once of par vaIu,
in the market, will sufficiently approx
mate par value as TO aid very greatly
in paying off these bonds and reducin
the tax. Let the people not be deceiv c
by these arguments-they are not SCUM
and are only resorted to in order t
frighten the timid and migil
formed in financial matters. In fac
this subscription can easily be pan
within the time proposed, and the peopl
not feel the burden as much as they no
feel the enormous freights now pail
Think of it? You, who have to pay froI
$3.50 to $500 per bale for freight on co
ton, or you who every year pay forty 0
fifty dollars freight per car load for coal
which only costs you Is or 16 dollars, ;
the mines. By means of competition
this can be remedied, and in Is or
months we may have two roads ruunin
through our town, and life an energ
take the place of that sloath and deca,
10 business which we all see creepin
upon US. OBSERVER.
Public Spirit.