Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-15

question which is put forth as a scare crow.
Promising that the water shall cost Sl25,OOO,
the interest upon the bonds which would
he 81 500 per annum at G per cent uhe mon
ey can be borrowed for per cent, maxi
ing 50, 25O), and sinking fund of $1,000 per
annum which would pay the entire bonds
in twenty-six years, would compel a tax TO
be raised, stating the village grand list at
81, 100000 (which is 100000 less than 1t
really is) of five-eighths of one per cent per
annum; a person paying on poll tax
would pay $685. a person who paid on
valuation of $1,000 would pay 1928 per an
mum. Would This be a ruinous tax when
the great advantage of this project is consid-
ed? The fact is admitted by all that this
village is sadly in need Of water both for
protection against lire and for household
purposes, and it stares us very plainly In
the face that we are growing more deficient
every year, while the wants are steadily
increasing. Possibly il is not known to
all that the rate of Insurance in this village
is very much higher Than it would oe If
the village Lad an ample wafer supply.
Every person who has any property 10 be
insured pays from % to so per cent. more
than Is paid for insurance of the same class
of property in villages ranked as "well
supplied with water" The manufacturer,
mechanic, merchant and householder is
thus paying 10 insurance companies, to be
carried away, very much larger sum than
the tax to he levied for placing this village
as "well supplied with water" This ex-
penditure goes and there is nothing return
ed TO benefit The village, while IL the same
money was paid for a permanent water
supply the people would be benefited both
in property aud in health.
Thus far / have treated this question as
one Of expenditure without any income.
Let us look at the subject in its probably
true light. The cost TO be 1925, 900 the an
nual interest on which we will call 1900
, aud annual care 81, 500, is $4,000. This sum
would be paid by rents for use OF waller as
soon as the water was introduced so as to
be made available. Northampton's water
rental from all sources for 1875 was $40, 900
and the superintendent pronounces it con-
stantly increasing. With the interest upon
the capital paid from rents, If the village
would assume tax OF $1,000 per annum
for twenty-slx years the entire water would
DO paid for and the village would own a
| valuable piece of property bringing a net
income Of more than 6 per cent. per annum
upon It's cost. What is the burden upon
the tax payer TO pay this 81 600 each Year,
| The poll tax payer would pay 25 cents per
annum, the property holder lbs per 81, 900
OF his assessed valuation; for this tax the
| 81 on,,lI ka tnIp anA annttnl,
TO nearly balance the whole tax ; while the
saving in insurance would be quadruple
the tax, or more than enough 10 balance
the interest upon the capital and the annu-
al sinking fund, and in the future a valua-
bic piece of property is owned by the vii
lage bringing an income much larger than
the whole expense of our schools for each
year,-which by the way would be very
proper disposal of this income. Perhaps
Tie suggestion in regard TO an income may
be met by sneer, but will the reader turn
TO our town hall experiment which was so
violently opposed as to bring on resort to
physical force. at the last meeting OF The
town 10 pay for The same, by the oppo-
nenis Of :he measure? This building cost
Braitleboro $4,000; it nets about per
cent. per annum besides furnishing place
we could not DO without.
Is town or village impoverishng itself
when the taxes raised are expended in such
a manner as to furnish the tax payer the
comforts, protection and convenicnces OF
civilized communities and still prove a
permanent investment of G per cent. per
annum? The mechanic and day laborer
without property 10 be protected may pos
sibly think that this protection is of no
consequence to them, but is this true? OF
what use is the village TO laboring men I'M
less il is protected, that the property hold
ers may be able 10 employ this class
Again do not this Same class pay a very
large proportion OF this extra insurance ?
The property owner figures his rental to
cover this insurance when he rents 10 the
merchant, the merchant then figures his
expense account upon the very class oil
people who buy in small quantities, for II
is well admitted fact that the person who
cannot buy other than at retail must be
the victim OF all retail traders. 1t may he
said that the increased tax for water would
be added, but this sum Is very small COM
pared with insurance rates, as the mer-
chant is not in the tax list for more than
one-fourth of his insurable property, or for
much less than one-fourth. Now, can any
reasonable man doubt the improperly OIL
trying to array this class of voters against
the welfare and future improvement Of
this village under false plea of unjust
taxation and putting the burden upon the
poor for the benefit OF the rich? Whatever
benefits the class who can expend money
serves 10 increase the growth of The village
and furnishes work for the laborer, which
is bread for his wife and children. w