Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-05

to do things differently in this country
we mean to proceed according to law
Albany Journal.
Letter from Turkey.
THE RAILRoADs-PLANs FOR THE fuTuRk--
THE FINANCES.
ERzRooN. Nov. %, 1874.
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times.
To enumerate the railways now in opera
ton in Turkey is very simple matter as
there are but six in all, with an aggregate
of 966 miles of rail Two of these lines,
running respectively north-easterly and
south easterly from Smyrna, are owned and
operated by English companies. and lind
their chief traffic in bringing forward tho
fruits of that region, principally figs and
raisins. Two others, also in the hands oil
English companies. connect points on the
Black Sea with places on the Danube. thus
avoiding the long windings of the lower
Danube. OF the remaining two, one runs
north westerly from Constantinople, as yet
but partially built, designed ultima tely to
extend to the Austrian frontier thus forming
rail communication with all parts Of Europe
A branch of this line is partially built from
Salynica, which Is becoming city of great
importance The last Of the six lines COM
mences at Scutari, that portion OF Constanti-
nople built on the Asiatic shore OF the
Bosporus, and is completed as lar east as
Nicomedia. The plan IS to continue this
line eastward to Bagdad and so on through
Persian territory to India, being part OF
grand through limo OF rail from England
to her Indian province. The English gov
ernmcnt is greatly interested in this enter
prise, and would be glad to share in its
construction, in order TO share in its con-
troll and use in the future. But the Turks
are growing jealous of foreign interference.
| and therefore are managing these two last
railway enterprise entirely alone.
| This is bat d poor show OF railways Tor
a country as large as Turkey in these last
/ days of the nineteenth century. But II Is
encouraging to notice that most Of these
roads have been built within the last eight
wears, and that more is being done now
| than ever before, in that direction. The
Sultan came home from his visit to Western
Europe IN 1867. fully determined that his
own territory should enjoy some OF the ad-
vantages that had done 50 much for other
lands. He has doubtless done as well as he
knew how to carry out that determine tion.
| 4 magnificent railway system has been
| planned for the whole country, and year
| ago a company of engineers were here
making the survey OF road which Is TO
connect this city with the western world.
But-alas the wherewlthal 10 carry out
this grand scheme is not forthcoming. An
I adj ast "A
which should be devoted exclusively to rail-
way building. But the loan was failure.
For many years the government has failed
to raise enough by taxation to meet Its or
binary civil and military expenses IN time
of peace. Last year the deficit was some
SIG coo OO0-One-htth as much a. the en-
tire revenue of the government. lime after
time resort has been had to loans at in
creasingly ruinOus rates, until the national
debt, considering the size and resources OF
the country, Is larger than that of any
other country in the world. No wonder
capitalists are chary of risklng their money
in the hands OF such government.
And yet ! DO not despair OF Turkey.
These very embarrassments will stimulate
her to invent some new way OF relief. And,
as far as these inventions arc IN the direc
ton of reform, they will tend TO perma-
nently better state Of things. Several I'M
portant changes have already been made.
One Is that which permits foreigners to
hold real estate Formerly foreigner
could hold real estate only IN the name OF a
natiyc-the title being secured by certif-
cate stating that the property was not
really his whose name was written IN the
deeds. but the foreigners, who occupied
the premises and held the deeds. But now,
that foreigners can hold property precisely
like natives, il is likely many will be In
| elined to invest in lands OF engage IN manu-
iacture This would be a great boon to
this land, which now sends all-or nearly
all-its wool, cotton and hides to Europe
buyIng them back, at enormous profits, II
the form OF cloth and leather.
Again, home manufactures will be fur
ther encouraged by the entire abolition o
the export tax and the Increase of the i'm
port reyenues. Indeed, under the old sys
TEN of taxing about equally all exports a!
well as imports, the small Industries. which
were in thriving condition, twenty anc
thirty years ago, had well-nigh died out
This change in taxation has, perhaps. COM
in time TO revive these trades, we may
hope. in new and more profitable lorms-
Again, nearly all internal revenue ha
. been abolished. This only affects the largt
. /
force. For instance, formerly. all article
manufactured here-stOyes, shoes, copper o.
. iron ware-could not be carried out OF TIL
city without first paying duty at the Gus
tom house. Nor could basket OF iresi
fruit, z jar Of butter. few pounds OF hone'
or feathers. enter the city from the country
: without paying duties. This was not onl'
a heavy burden, but an annoyance and {
/ great hndrance to trade. Now all this /
,, abolished to the great simplifeation OF tn
collection Of revenue.
: To make up the loss OF revenue involved
in this change, two e1pedlents have beel
adopted. Ono is to buy up all the tobacco
at q price fixed by government. and sci
it at enormous profits. To prevent frauds
1t Is all put up in sealed packages OF differ
, ent sizes and prices. 10 suit all customers
, Under this regulation tobacco has soon
doubled in price. and the poor fellows, t
whom smoking had come to be secon'
nature. are thrown into great trlbulation
The second expedent Is TO increase tn
agricultural tithes from One-tenth to one
eighth. (!r YOU call that an Irish bull,
protest i: is only Turkish bull. for il
Turkey 1.-THE is anything from one
twentieth to one-ffth) This is untortunat
, for the agricultural classes, twith thel
poll, house, sheep land and military taxes
in paying one-tenth already bore far NOR
than their proportion OF the burden
= Of the government. The effect thus bearin.
f down upon the agriculturists is to cry
many OF them to tho cities or to othe
countries. thus leaving much land unculti
} waited. and permanently impoyerishing tn
. country. Ii the burden could be mad
, heavier on the rich of the cities, and ligh
tened on the farmers, the true interests o
E the country would be greatly enhanced.
t In word. better knowledge of tn
! principles Of political economy is necessary
also more enterprise in developing tn
agricultural, mineral and other resources o
. the country. But since our congress ha
, legisated 50 insanely on the currency ques
, ton. We Americans cannot say much. W
are the rather inclined to recommend GU
Congressman to study the manner in which
alter the Crimean war, Turkey brought 1t
currency back to a specie basis. 1t woul'
give them new and wholesome ideas.
NJ p p