The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-31
Our. Southern Railroad.


Our Southern Railroad.
The announcement that the ten mill |
Ions appropriated by the city for the
construction Of our Southern railroad
TO Chattanooga were nearly exhausted
and no road built, produced condition
of mind in the community akin to a
panic. People were alarmed at the pos |
sible burden of taxation that might
ensue If additional millions were to be
provided for completing the road as
contemplated; and some were found so
distrustful OF the future as to be willing
to submit to the sacrifice of all that was
past, in the hope of escaping any addi-
tional amount of taxation.
ct must be confessed that the unusual
and needless reticence of the Trustees,
for some time past, concerning the con-
dition Of their fund and the progress
of the work, tended to beget distrust in
the whole management; and when the
announcement came, of failing fund
and an unfinished work, it fell upon the
public mind, already disturbed by sus-
picious alarm, with most unexpected
force, causing an unpleasant degree OF
depression.
But, it is gratifying to note, that since
the publication of all the facts and fig
ures touching the use Of the fund, and
the progress and prospects of the work,
the public mind has almost entirely re-
covered from the panic into viii ch it had
fallen under the influence Of silence and
secrecy. We can not now entertain any
doubt but that Cincinnati will stand
boldly up to the emergency; that she
will build that great Southern road and
own it. And we believe, that when
built, it will be worth more to Cincin-
nathan all the millions it will cost
1t has been said that 1t is road
that begins somewhere and goes no
where; that it runs through
region where there is nothing, to re
gion where we can get nothing. BuI
this is all clap-trap and CANNON. Grant
ing that the country through which
passes is yet undeveloped, it is never
theless certain that it has immens
capabilities, Tor production and futur'
wealth. But that is not the main poin
at issue:--it is unquestionable that, b.
this road of 331 miles, Cincinnati i
brought in direct connection with tn
whale system of Southern railway cor
struction. This of itself is well wort
its cost to Cincinnati.
Admitting that the road is to cos
S6,0O0,0 600 additional to the amount here
tofore granted, that is not excessive as
compared with the cost of railroads II
the West. Judge Taft thinks that ther
will probably be only S4,OOo,oO0 needed
but deems it prudent to get a grant 70
s600O,O0o. And, in this, we thin
he is discreet. The average cost Q
railway construction in Ohio has bee
found to be $4,000 per mile. This aver
age on the Southern Road would brin
the cost to just about S15,0OO,0oO.
Now this sum is not going to bankrup
Cincinnati, by any means. Very ia
from it. The valuable report just sui
mitted to the Board OF Trade b
the Committee on Municipt
Taxation puts this matter in a light 3
once clear and satisfactory. BY that II
port it is made to appear that the mi
nicipal debt of Cincinnati is, by grei
deal, the lowest per capita Of any Of IL
principal thirteen cities of the Unite
States. 1t is also Shown that, even wi
the Six millions additional to the t.
millions already appropriated, the lev
can not exceed thirty-fve mills on u
present duplicate; andthis is but a trif
in excess ofieyies repeatedly made her
. totore in the city, AMI which were nj
without any serious Inconvenience
the people; and for which there was nc
as In this case, any permanently col
pensating returns for the Investments.
The fact is, Cincinnati is apt to be t
easily frightened by the bngaboo Of ia
alton TO deherseK justice; and on tt
account she has seen other cities Of t
West passing her in growth and dey'
opment. There is such a thing as bel
TOO penurious to be prosperous. Cine
natl is city OF solid wealth. There
none more SO. Let her watch and qua
against the official thleyery that inver
sgobsv through which to peryert a
swallow up her revenues, and she Q