Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-04-17
WHOLE NO. a,17s.
WHAT CAUSES, EMIGRATION FROM
TENNESSEE NOR HIGH TAXES.
From The nemnhis Anpaal

From the Memphis Appeal.
4 We have sometimes heard it said,
and even seen it in public speeches.
that people were being d riveu from
Tennessee by the burdens Of taxation
| imposed upon them. This has caused
US to give the matter some investiga-
ton, and We find. upon examination,
that whatever may be the cause or
causes which lead to emigration from
Tennessee, high taxes do not produce
this result. If they did. the emigrants
would seek countries where the taxes
are lower than they are in Tennessee,
whereas they invariably go to States
or cities, where the taxes are higher.
The principal emigration from Ten
nessee is to Texas, Arkansas, Kansas.
Missouri, and California. In each of
these States taxes are greater than in
Tennessee. In Kansas the rate of
taxation is SO cents; the amount of
taxes is S95S.53S, and the value of
farms 81 ,630,65 In Missouri the
rate of taxation is 10 cents; the amount
oftaxes s., ,467 ,542; the value of farm
products, Sl0S, ,635, ,759. In Texas the
rate of taxation is 80 cents the amount
of taxes collected is 81 ,105. $50; the
value of farm products is $40, ,1S5, ,170.
In California the rate of taxation is
90 cents the amount of taxes S,104-
2i2; the value offarm products is 49,
S56,623 In Arkansas the rate of tax
alton is 81 %, the amount of taxes
81. go, ,603; the value of farm products
S40,701 ,699. In Tennessee the rate of
taxation is 40 cents, the amount of
taxes 81 ,938. $50; the value of farm pro-
ducts $50. Az, ,S07. The rate of taxa
ton and the amount of taxes in each
of these States was for the year 1873,
and the value of farm products was for
the year 1870, as shown by the United
States census reports. These figures
show that Tennessee pays far less tax
in proportion to her farm products
than any of these States, all Of which
are agricultural and she also has n
lower rate of taxation than any Of them.
The assessments are lower in Tennes-
see than in most, if not all, Of those
States. From these facts, which can
not be disputed, it is evident that no
person will eyer leave Ten
nessee and go to any of these States to
escape taxation. The same facts are
applicable to cities as well as to States.
Even in Memphis, where taxation is
less, we are informed, than it is in St.
Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati or New
York. The truth is, it is not the
amount of taxes paid, but the benefits
derived from them which determine
the prosperity of State or of a city.
The people who suffer most in any
are those who pay no taxes.
because they have no property. The
cheapest government is not always the
best, but the gOvernmentwhiehaf affords
the greatest advantages and the most
benefits at the least expense is the best.
While on this subject. we will repro
duce sentence from recent letter of
II. NJ. Snyder, of Chattanooga, full Of
sound views and practical good sense.
He says: That taxation is a burden
which does not procure eommensu-
rate benefit. Excessive taxation will
cripple all our industries and retard
our prosperity. That taxation, how
ever, which under an economical and
honest administration Ofpublic affairs,
is necessary to establish those public
necessary to development
and progress, and to maintain the credit
Of the State, is not excessive, however
high the rate may be-