Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-02-26
THE MINING JOURNAL
FRo5TBURG, MD, FEB. a6, 1876.


A CHALLENGE 10 CUMHI:3rAND.-With
reference to the fallacy of increased
taxation as an objection against the forma-
tion of a new county, We take occasion to
refer to some showings made in the Annual
Levy of June last, Our figures are rs
nearly correct as can be gathered from the
documcn: referred to, and where estimates
have been necessary, liberal allowances
have been made against us
In the first place, we find the entire as
scssmcnt of Alegany county, exclusive of
S2,00O,0C0 to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company, to be $l5,i03,613, divided
as follows:
West Allegany, (ncw county) s o,eG.,oG3
East Allcganv, 6,43G,550
Total, So ,.03, G13
We have, therefore, an excess of 81 $50, 513
which realizes $22 $40 more than East Ale
gany, as follows;
Taxes paid by West Allegany, $ HOB
Taxes paid by East Allcgany, 1924
Total, $l2O,421
OF the $3.50, 427 thus collected, not over
$4,000 is expended in this region, $4,000
ot'whch is estimated as coming through the
School Board. On tue other hand We find
$4,000 certainly expended outsiGe tie coal
region, leaving $1S,427 appropriated to OBJ
jects i'll which we cannot precisely deter
mine our share fsupport, such as Removed
Cases. Jurors Fund, Outside Pensioners,
etc. 1t is safe 10 say, however, that we do
not really get back Aalf of what remains in
: the county but, putting 1t at that estimate,
We have for our share SAL 1880, while the
eastern part of the county gets $79,213.50.
We have here the astonishing fact of this
region paying fifty per cent. MORE of the
revenue than tie other half of the county,
and getting back fifty per cent. LESS! In
other words, we this year give the other
half of the county $4,000 for It's invest
-ment of $4S, 0GO, and receive Sal 600 for our
investment of $1,000! BY thus paying
$4,000 lin round numbers) more and OBJ
tanning back $4,000 less. this coal region
loses clearly and irrevocably $6I.GOO
The above paragraph constitute a show
ing We have hitherto &c, but which we
now commend t the especial attention OF
those Cumberland papers which have never
seen an argument for new county. We
admit tina: our strongest point lies in the
SOL 900 which the new county would save
annually, and from our standpoint this is
huge economy. But our Cumberland
friends, who are in the habit of deciding
our matters for us, think differently, but
fer what special cause they have not di-
vulgcd. The alleged reasons are, that we
90 not want it; that there is no argument
in its favor, and that it will impose ncreas-
ed taxation upon us. To rebut this we re-
produce the SOL, 1000 we will save. We
dare them to dispute the showing; we dare
them to say that an annual saving of SOL
900 is not a sound argument for any meas
ure 1t will not answer to sag the figures
are incorrect; you must shoe they are. 1t
will not do to rehearse old Cumberland OBJ
jections; we want the facts met and dis
posed of "openly and honestly When
you have done this, and then only, will it
be proper and honest to represent our
claims as falsey based. If you cannot dis
establish the 900 argument, it will lie
in order to hold your garrulity, or tell the
truth.