The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-09-18
Railroad Taz.

Many people who really favor this
great public improvement are apt to
overlook everything except the mere
fact of having the tax to pay, not in
vestiyatiny all the bearings upon the
case.
We are asked to take stock in this
railroad, in our corporate capacity.
to the extent of one hundred thousand
dollars, paying for that stock bonds
of the parish, due in ten years and
bearing four per cent interest. Most
persons look at this amount and
make calculations that the real es-
tate owners will have to pay the en-
oymous sum of ;;ll0,OOO for a rail
road when such is not Tire case as fig
ures will show.
The length Of tho railroad route
through this parish is estimated at
sixty miles, upon which parish taxes
will DC levied, as we'll as on other
property. This sixty miles of road
will be assessed at not less than $780,
600, or nearly as much as the entire
assessment of property in the parish
now.
We pay Il tax, State and parish,
now, Of % mills upon the assessed
value of the property as it now stands.
This 100000 railroad assessment
would relieve us of much Of that, at
least 90 mills. In ten years the tax
on $GOo,ooo, at three per cent per an
mum, would amount to just one hun
dred and eighty thousand dollars, or
$40, 600 more than the amount re-
qairca to pay this railroad tax, interest
and principal. In othcrwcrds, the
railroad pays, what We are asked to
give it, back to MS, and fonr thousand
dollars per year besides.
Some may say, "but the railroad
will not be required to pay this rail-
road tax" well and good, but we say
it has to pay parish taxes and it
amounts to the same thing. Tho tax
payer will not be required to pay
parish taxes, the railroad does that
for him ; but he will DC required to pay
railroad taxes, which he has to pay
any way; and the railroad reduces
that $4,000 per year on both parish
and State, which reduces the State
and parish taxes now being COLLECTED
fully one fourth ; that is, instead of
% mills now paid, 10 will then pay
but 81 mills for parish aud State, and
no fallrOau TAX.
Let us carry out this idea for we
conceive that We are understood
plainly in the above hypothesis, and
say that the railroad is completed
our bonds issued, and our shares in
the hands of the treasurer, The in.
come from railroad build as this is
proposed to be and running through
such a rich and productive country,
tapping the faircst portion of Texas,
cannot fail to he large, and we can
safely approximate the dividends ut
ten per cent. This parish would have
then Il steady income from this source
alone of ten thousand dollars. The
roilroad continuing in the meantime
to pay its taxes upon tho assessed
5000, 900 would so matclially reduce
taxation that it would amount to al.
most nothing, not five mills, all told.
1t will be seen by this that the rail.
road will not only materially benefit
us in the way of quick transportation,
competitive markets, &c, but it re-
duces our taxes to almost nothing as
can he rediIy seen from the above.
We propose now to show those who
live at a distance from this road how
they will he benefited. In the first
instance they will admit that the
taxes thus reduced benefits them
greatly, to tho extent, we would say,
ofover two per cent, which is no small
sum to a hard working farmer. But
wc all want immigration, and this
reduced, almost nominal, taxation is
one great help to the railroad to get
it. Take parish off the line of the
road and the first enquiry of land
and home seeker will be tho amount
of'taxes that are paid they will tell
him Is, 90 or even 30 mills on the
dollar, while in this parish it will
scarcely reach FIVE. Do we not at
once see that the great objection tO
investing money in lands for homes,
high taxation is removed and we
will have an influx in our midst
that will buy up and cultivate our
waste land becoming themselves tax
payers, they will lessen the burdens
upon those land owners now here,
besides improving the country, in
creasing trade, and in every way adj