The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-08-16

iuSS snonS many cis'AouS VI WI
county that nonresident land-ewn-
ers owe all the increase Of value in
their lands to the improvements
made BY actual settlers. Hence
comes the impression on the minds
Of . large portion, that it is right
for them when assessing and col
lscting taxes to discriminate in fa-
YER Of residents. There is just
enough Of truth in the statement
FIRST given above to cause it to be
m excellent tool for mischief max
srs to use in poisoning the minds
Of the people. While it is true
that the improvement of wild lands
adds to the value of surrounding
lands; yet it is just as true that the
taxes Of nonresident land owners
in this county pay for nearly all
the expense of building school
houses, roads, bridges, &c. Our
settlers must see, when they view
the matter honestly and candidly,
that all the credit fer developing
the country docs not belong to act
nal residents. Here, as in many
ether new counties, large part of
the subsistence of settlers comes
indirectly from the non-residents-
through taxes and numbering oper-
stions. Take away the capital Of
non-residents invested in Lake
county, and business would be ut
terly Frustrated. All the lands now
held by non-residents would be in
the hands Of the government; there
would be no railroad; the taxes to
be collected from settlers would be
inadequate to meet the burden Of
building school houses, roads and
bridges-they could not and would
not bear the burden and as con-
sequence, our county would remain
. wilderness. As a practical illus
tratisn of tho fact that the settlers
owe something, at least, to capital
Of noA-resiJents, we take the single
item Of the whortleberry crop,
which each year since the railroad
was opened brings from $1,000 to
$1,000 into the pockets of settlers
trading at Baldwin; to say nothing
Of the advantage at other points.
Another false doctrine taught is
that the spectators price their
lands toe high, and thus prevent
settlement. We do not propose to
discuss the policy pursued by non
residents in pricing their lands; as
that is q question which concerns
them alone, and not the public.
The falseness of the theory in re-
gard to checking imnigration-at
presents made plain when we
look at the many acres of land,
some Of it adjoining nonresident
lands aAd equally good-offsred for
sale ut one half or one-third the
price alleged to be placed on nsn-
resident acres-with no purchasers.
Has not the past and present con-
ditien Of affairs in Lake county
taught our people that netting but
a conscientious s8ard .flaw and
the rights Of all classes can promote
prosperity? Illegal acts, or acts Of
injustice; no matter if they are done
under the excuse of poverty, public
policy or otherwise, can have but
one effect upon the miads Of all
honest, impartial judges. Those
judges will condemn them. Your
own conscienccs will condemn them,
after more mature reflection. The
temporary gain will never compsn-
safe for the loss which will newt
ably snsus. The men who will ad-
wise and aid you in wrong acts prove
themselves anything but frisads of
the people. Such men are but
WORTHLESS demagogues, who live and
fstten on the honest earnings Of
the masses, and should be thrust
out Of ell confidence and esteem.
Disregard Of law has been on the
increase in Lake county, until in
some townships the finances and
moral status have been ruined.
This 10 no idle talk. 1t is a state
msnt Of facts. Whether the law
lsssness comes through ignorance
or otherwise. makes no difference
in the result; and it should be the
duty Of every honest citizen to OK
ert his influence to put it down.
We shall be sorry to see the day
when il can be truly said that any
man, no matter who he may be,
cannot receive justice ut the hands
Of . jury in Lake county, and that
IL would be necessary to have his
ease tried outside the county; and
yet We knew that many things have
already tvanspired, leading directly