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

hope to see our people cyincinS stna
dy work in the railroad matter. We
must not remain idle an instant, but
exert ourselves with all our misht tt
push through this most desired i'm.
provcment.
What we arc now, in 4 material
condition, will not bear contrast Will
that of other States WHO have lines
of railway travel and transportation
Nature has given us soil and eli
mate unsurpassed; vast mines of az
ricultural wealth require develop.
mcnt which will only be consume
ted with IL flow of immigrants Of the
proper character.
This parish does not require Ia.
Dor for hire as much as it does u pro.
prietary one-farmers owning and TIL
ling the soil; improving not only the
lands but, the present productions OF
the country. When our farmers have
orchards; have grain and meadow
fields, rear cattle and hogs; cult.
vatc and market all products that arc
here susceptible Of being cultivated,
we will have more money in the
country with which to improve and
further advance I'LL its interests.
We arc all satisfied that railroads,
and particularly this New Orleans
and Pacific, will in Il great measure
advance us towards our hopes and
wishes-will bring people here who
will help us bring Louisiana back to
her old wealth and prosperity ; it
would DC glory and honor enough for
Us should we do so, even to leave the
simple heritage for our children, that
of free, prosperous and advancing
State.
Think of the wealth once enjoyed
by this parish in the past, and at the
same time remember that it is within
our power to bring it all back to us,
and that too, in 4 more lasting shape.
In 1853, the value of property in
this parish was Sc, 429,750, Of which
s4,ol0,25o was slave property, lcav
ing $2,4l9,500 the valuation of lands,
stock, &C., &C., at present the valu.
alton of property is less than $780,
0OO, or about one third of what it
was in 1860, two years later than the
estimate made above. What the
causes for this great depression are,
We will not now licuss; radical rule
has had all to do with it, but, we
must set about building it up again.
What dcters us from enhancing the
value of real and personal property
to $22,50o,000, even without rail-
road? But with q railroad running
up this valley the value Of property
can be safel; estimated at about as
follows: (bascd upon tablean of 1870
Value Of real estate S2,l00, 1000
live stock 25O,oOO.OO
i" other personal
property l,0O9,M0.OO
:" {" Railroad 100000
Total S3,7l5, l9l 90
This is for the first year after the
completion of the railroad and is but
little in excess of the value OF pro-
pcrty as assessed in 1870.
Here there is an increase in value
of nearly three million dollars upon
real estate and personal property,
which will surely occur within the
first year after this contemplated RAIL.
road is completed. Let US DOW csti-
mate the tax rate upon the above ba-
sis, for upon property valuation
corresponding with it, will the levy
he made.
The State calls for a levy of AZ
mills, which will he much less under
good rule, say 10 mills. The parish
requires $4,000 to pay expenses, the
railroad tax, principal $4,000 per
year, interest $4,000 per year, making
a total for parish purposes of $780,
900, or about 8 mills for the same.
Our readers will perceive at a glance
the amount, for State purposes, say
10 mills, for parish purposes, say 8
mills, or eighteen mills entire.
What do you pay now? Look at
your tax notice. Tccnty nine mills
for all purposes, or eleven mills on
the dollar more than would be requir.
ed to pay your State, parish and rail-
road tax, in the event You bnild one.
Figures are strange things, but we
have heard it said often, that.tEcy do
not lie. Our estimate of the value Of
property upon which the above figures
are based, docs not exceed the value
of our property in 1866, 67 or 6S,
and We are more than certain that it
is far below what it will reach.
We would be glad to have our tax
payers think over these things, to