The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-04-14
IEeIrenchmenta and Taxation.

Akelrench Ment and Taxation.
1t was, last winter, a favorite
theme of one or two members OF
the House, that in view of the fact
''that in 1861, with only 107 900 peo-
pie, and $24, 10000 taxable proper
ty, the State levy was six mills
that in 1875, with $4,000 people
and $l30,O00,O00, of taxable prop
erty the State levy was six
mills, showing that it requires
some 500 900 to run State with
100000 Inhabitants and S24000,OOO
of wealth, while with 100000 peo-
pie and $l30,000,000 it requires
S7S0,0O0," it was not worth while
to get more people into the State,
The theory was that it required q
larger levy percentage of tax to pay
the expenses of the State, with the
present population, than it did in
1861, with a smaller number of in
habitants and less taxable property.
We have examined the statistics
of the State as they appear in the
Agricultural Report, aud give the
result as an answer to the wild the
cries of the sticklers for retrench-
meDt and reform.
We find that in 1861, the State
with twenty-four millions of wealth
and 1000 people, had to run in
debt to pay current expenses.
Bonds were issued and authorized
to be sold for seventy cents on the
dollar to raise money for this pur-
pose. From 1861, to the commence
ment of 1865, At the time when our
enlisted men were returning to in
dustrial pursuits, and when the tide
ofimmigration began to set Kansas
ward, the current expenses of run.
ming the government was S4l2 ,329.-
So. Up TO that time bonds had been
issued in the sum of $455, 275, oil
$50, 945.l5 in excess of the expenses
This amount was mostly invested
in the penitentiary. The one hund.
red and thirty millions of taxable
property, aud the SIS, $40 people Of
1876 are. paying the interest on these
and other bonds of an early day, as
we'll as contributing TO the sinkin 8
fund for their final redemption
In 1861 there was not mile OF rail
road or telegraph line in the state
in 1875 there was over 1000 miles
of each. In 1861 few schools wer,
taught in rented rooms in 1877!
there were nearly 1000 school hous
es. elegantly finished and furnished
valued at over S4,000,000. Church
es and churchproperty have increas
ed in about the same ratio. In 1S6
there were 223,5 75 acres of land un
der cultivation; in 1875 1t had In.
creased to 4,749, 900 acres. In view
ofthis wonderful progress, arc no
immigration aud wealth of SOM
benefit? In 1861 the twenty fou
million of taxable property was as
sessed at more than its intrinsi
value; in 1875 at about One-hall
EqualiZe these assessments and tn
number of mills of tax levy woult
not in 1875 exceed that of 1861
Notwithstanding thu State is pay
ing the board bills, current expen
ses, of her early contIaction whel
she could not care for herself be
cause of her sparse population an
poverty. The first levy for 9 sink
ing fnnd was in IS6S, since whic
time the accum ulated wealth he
been taxed to redeem the promise
of previous years as well as toybnitt
pubic institutions, besides defray
ing current expenses, without IL
creasing the debt, except for 400
in 1874, for relief, and S36, 800 f.
military bonds in 1876, all being Il
extesOrdinary purposes. ~. .9.,A
We think that these figures just
fly US, aud those who believe tn,
population iss an element Of wealt
that money expended to- increai
the number of people in the Stat
Is put to good use.-Com.