The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-02-16
:. conpouna Ia.srs.. vs.. common

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/ EMPoRIA. February I3, 1877.
EDITORS NEWS: Permit farmer, who
has never voted dollar of taxation for
any enterprise of private nature, and
who seldom troubles you or your readers,
to offer few thoughts for what they are
worth, upon the all absorbing question OF
The hour. The decision OF the high joint
commission upon the Presidential prob
lem sinks into comparative insignifeanee
beside the question of voting a bonded
Indebtedness upon the county in the in
terest Of another railroad enterprise. Yet
there are two sides to tits question, and
it becomes us as reasoning men to think
upon this subject, and give our opponents
arguments whatever merit may attach to
them. For instance, the argument Of those
mathematical minds, who take cur debt,
present and proposed, and compound il
until they present you with q row Of
figures as long as your arm, is not to be
relied upon any more than The statement
OF Arehimedes, who only asked for place
10 stand upon, and 3 lever long enough
TO move the world, and took NJ account
OF the fact that the known universe is too
contracted locality to work his lever in.
This class OF argument is too much like
the perpetual motion "a beautiful
theory, but impractieable. Fortunately,
the stern, practical common sense OF hu-
manity ignores the ideal and imaginary.
Unlike the professor who, when told by
3 practical friend that his theory followed
out to its legitimate conclusion, would
nj q h. Il 4 tak
split, there are plenty more planets"
the conan on sense Of the masses replies:
impractical" " visionary and goes to
its work undaunted. Too often, for the
strength Of their position, the friction Of
fact confutes and demolishes the so-ealled
axioms OF this class OF mathematicIans.
Franklin has conclusiyely demonstrated,
much against his will or intention, that
even compound interest is subject to the
same Persian edicts as are al, the other
problems Of business life, supply and de-
mand. Strip d, then, OF all Its verbiage.
our local problem is simply this, will an
other outlet to Kansas City and market,
cheaper freights, ana in q corresponding
degree enhance values? VIII reduction
of twenty five per cent. on transportation
pay US sufficiently to warrant us In in
curing debt of one hundred thousand
dollarsr Will there be an increase of
population and improvements sufficient
to neutraIize eight thousand dollars q
year additional taxationl And lastly, il
fright! In answer, l will say that this
county pays in the nelghborhood of $780,
Geo year for freight, and that the pref
m rail hoU
for fifty cents per hundred pounds. The
rate now is S1.2O for the same goods
making an advance of nearly $40, 600,
estimating on that basis. Is that worth
saving, and not only enhancing, IN pro-
portionate degree, the value of the pro-
ducts We ship, but those We sell at home,
for the outside demand regulates the
home market.
On the second proposition. Have not
the railroads we now have, by increasing
our valuation decreased our taxes? Com
pare the county tax of 1869, before we
had any bonds. and the same tax for 1876.
Or, compare the taxes of Coffey, Green.
wood, or Chase counties, where they have
no bonds, with Lyon, and then draw your
own differences.
As regards the third proposition. The
highest tribunal of the country has de-
cided as to its legality.
And now, farmers, give these problems
lair study, and then vote for or against
the proposition, as you may think best.
will only say in conclusion, if an in
terest fund OF $4,000 year, at compound
interest, amounts to a million dollars in
thirty VearS 500 0OO a wear ootnnonn,Iad
for thirty years, will amount te several
millions Of dollars. The one proposition
is as reliable as the other. Econ ONLY.