New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-09
TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS
CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF NEW
ORLEANS.


ORLEANS.
PILLOW ClTIzsSs-In . vsry few days We shall
DO called upon, In accordance with law to vote for
or against proposition to assess the property Of
this parish one half Of one par cent per annum for
four years. to aid in tho construction Of the New,
Orleans Pacific railway. great enterprise now
being rapidly pushed forward ftom deep water ON
Red river to the northern part Of this State.
This road, whom completed, It 10 undisputed, win
restore to our city very largo proportion, II not
ell, Of tho lucrative trade which has been diverted
into other and alien channels; will stay the ruin
ously downward tendency Of real estste of this
parish. now almost without salsble or rentable
value; will cause return Of profitable business to
our merchants traders and manufacturer; win
furnish remunerative employment to hundreds Of
educsted young men, who are now living in en-
forced idleness and undessrved poverty, aud viii
double the present rat - Of wages obtained BY
skilled and unskiled workmen, by haudicraftmen
Of every description, lonsshoremen, drsymen, day
aborers. and the many other descriptions of work.
men unclassi6ed. who get honest bread in the mul.
tifstious occupations Of . large city.
The question. chen. it appears to u, which We -
suffering and respondent people are called i'm.
peratively to ak ourselves 10 just this Shall We
10Do00 cent
Per annum for four years. with every reasonable
expectation Of tho dattsring resuts described, or
shall we refuse 90 to do. with the moral tainty
Of witnessing permanent loss Of eur best com.
meroe, the still greater depreciation Of our prop
perty, more ruino1s diminution Of wages and en-.
ployment, and ultimate depopulatioa Of our cityi
These are the only questions that really are in
volved In the issue presented. It 10 mot wheth OF
N "a n IT Ia nj
Of one-hslf Of ono Per cent per snnum for four
years. and for which they viii receive stock in the
road and . permanent control Of its affairs; but
whether II they do not they give any satis fac.
tory reason for their conduct. any even speeious
argume Mt - show that ruin will not follow their
recuea-cy.
We the subscribers to this appeal to our fellew.
ciizens arc not speculators in railroads, but
deeply. according to our respective means, inter
ested in the real estate and mercantile and me-.
chanical enterprises Of our city; and regard -
absolutely unworthy Of serious confederation the
assertion Of . few men that this commun ity can
not afford to pay for or toward work, not dis
putsd, recollect, by any one. to be Of the most
pressing and urgent need. the trifing sum Of half
Of one per cent per aunum for four years.
Let u suppofe that one Of our number who have
signed this appeal has . little property assessed
this day at $1,000, hs tax per annum win be 3 s,
and in four years he will have paid $50 In all. and
to that extent he il and always can be . stock.
holder in the New Orleans Pacific railway, getting.
if dividend Of eight per cent per sonum Per
share. say. Is declared. his proportion fifth Of
q share II he purchases enough in addition to
make 500, then he il a voter - we'll - . stock
company just az fully - If he owned 100 or more.
10 there any monopoly or private corporation
about thisl
The present directors Of the New Orleans Pacific
railway devote their time. attention. and por-
ton of their me ans, without hope Of reward. to
the promotion Of this great enterprise and our
hopes; and they WILL 1t any time. retire to make
way for others the stockholders may deem moro
capable, or continue their disinterested services
until the completion Of the line, when paid officers
viii no doubt be elected by the stockholders, and
the company, thenceforth, 60 on as every other
one of the kind does.
This then, 10 the vital undertaking We shall all
be required and within very few aays to sp-
prove or reject at the ballot box. Can there be q
shadow of doubt a. to the result . solitary fear
entertained that any enlightened real estate
owner, merchant. trader, manufactu or, clerE,
artisan or laborer will hesitate in voting for q
small contribut for great and vital an object!
very few rich real estate owners, who do not,
perhaps. recognize the necessity of any contrlbu-
ton to public objects, and the non resident owners
of over fifty millions worth of real estate of this
parish may deem their whole duty discharged to
this community when they withdraw their accru-
ing rentals from our impoverished peoples but
surely, those to the manner porn, or who have
abiding interests in New Orleans, will not look to
such examples but will come forward like true
men and determine that this New Orleans Pacific
railway shall be built by themselves, by their con-
tributioas alone. aud owned exclusively by them.
aud in such way that not dollar Of bonded or
other debt shall attach to it on the day Of it,
pletion, when they shall enter on its permanent
possession, and may We not hope glorious future.