Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-04-01
We and Our Townsmen.

community, live under the same laws,
aud have mutual interest in everything
that relates to the town. Such relations /
must create mutual obligations, and this /
view of our subject leads us to inquire
what are our duties to our neighborsf
As tOwnsmen, how FAR should we bear
each others burdens? /
These questions are Of pratieal import
ance, and we belieye may be discussed |
with profit. In almost every town there |
are interests and pFiyiiess which seem to |
be local. A large, central village has its |
special educational and social advantages.
Several smaller villages in difie,ent parts
Of the same town have their Mills and
manufactures, while the rural districts
are separated from them all Nov the
tendency of such facts is to create rialry
and jealousy among neighbors, ana to
lead some to feel that they have 10
special interest except in their own in
mediate ncighborEood, and hence it Isl
wrong to expect them to bear any other
burdens except such as will result ih
immediate aud direct profit to themselves.
a spacious school-house, and a fire depart
ment to guard against the losses resulting
form confagration; but the citizens
who live in other districts think they
should be relieved of such expense, be-
cause they, individually, do not need such
accommodation for themselves or their
children, and as to the ''prccinct" bust
ness the fire department can do them no
good. They are so far away that their
buildings would be in ashes before the
expensive engine could reach them.
Hence the plea is, "don't tax us unless
you can bring all these advantages to our
doors" A turnpike or Rail Road passes
advantage, but "don't tax us to support
it unless you can make it run through
our farm, or where it is impossible to
build it.
Now we maintain that this is all wrong
in principle and ruinous in practice.
Every citizen has a special interest, and
should have an honest pride in the pros
perity of his own town. A spacious
town house, convenient for all public
gatherings, neat and attractive hotels
convenient and tastcfully constructed
churches, an elegant, central school build
:ngs, are all indications of town thrift
and prosperity, and tend directly to in
crease the value of real estate. What i:
a good farm worth in Sodom? Its value
depends not alone upon the fertility o
the soil and its productiyeness, but upol
its nearncSs to q thrifty village which
will furnish a home market, and churcl
school accommodations; in word, til,
value Of this farm depend upon all til,
advantages and Improvements that MAKE
the town attractive and desirable as
place of residence. 1t must follow, there
fore, that every citizen has q persona
interest in all that gives prominence o
renders attractive his town as town. IL
has personal interest in the proSperit.
of every other citizen, and he suffers il
consequence Of the calamity or misfor
tunes of any other citizens. The prosper
ity of the merchant and manufacturer i
the prosperity of the mechanic and TIL
farmer, and the failure of the farme
must result in a loss and injury to tn
latter. The fire that consumes half tn
village, or only farm house in differen
part of the town, is calamity to ever.
, farmer who resides within the limits o
that town. 1t must follow, therefore
that every citizen should help bear thu
p burdens, and share the responsibilities o
town life. He should share the take
which are necessary to secure the pros
pcrity and protect the property Of hi
town. 1t is on this principle that lie pay
county and State taxes. And OH the sam
principle, and even stronger after having
aSsented to it, is he under obligation t.
pay railroad tax.