The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-02-16
FARSnEER,s SECOND SAY.
More about che Rond Bu.lnes.

FARMERS SECOND san.
More about the Bond BusIness.
EDIToRs EEPoRIA NEWS 81 have
to honestly admit that after reading
such nice calculations in last weeks
issue about our narrow gauge, that
I wss almost persuaded 10 your
side of the question. thought it
would be SO nice for the hard
working farmer to go to the tax
books aud find ALL our taxes PAID,
and that, too, by BoNDHeLDERs. /
thought that a turn about would be
fair play, and nothing but right. So
we will go for the narrow gauge I
But then when l went out to my
nice herd of cows snd calves and
began to calculate how many il
would take to paw these tsxes, those
fine hopes were all gone-knocked
into jumbled up pie. So you see
1 take my position against the bonds
Bear in mind that am no enemy to
railroads, but am opposed to others
thrusting their hands into my peck
cts to build up any capitalist. But
to that herd of cows. Here 1 have
in round numbers say 80 cows aud
26 calves; as nice herd as there is
in the neighborhood. These COWS
are worth $50 each, which makes
$500. The interest on this sum is
$50, and the tax st $I5 head, at 8
per cent. is 45 cts each, or 1880.
Ny tax on the farm and other per-
sonsl property is $126.50. The cows,
if well cared for, will bring 26 calves
and the calves at So each amounts
TO sos. The interest on the invest
ment in cows is $50. The tax on
the same is $3.50. and the farm and
other personal property amounts to
5000. This taken from what the
calves will sell for leaves me So,
just one calf to invest in new bonds,
out of total of Sc head of cattle, all
to be provided for as we'll as my
family. Who can do more? Yet
the country does not improve. We
will look at this again: Ny neigh
Dor oyer the way pays the same
taxes but has been lucky enough to
beep his steers until feed time. He
has FIVE cows, worth 500; four
calves worth $32; four yearlings,
sos; four two year oIds, $72; four
three year olds, S92; and four four
year elds, $50 each, or $500. In all,
81 head worth 1896. The interest
on this is $40 GO; the tax is SO; |
whole amount of sales every year
5000. Tax and interest, Sl751O,
leaving him a small three year old
for the new bonds. He thinks that
by the time he provides for his fam
ilY aud his herd, that he has enough
to do, and besides that, some of his
herd may die, or he may grow old
before those bonds are all paid of,
and guesses he had better not vote
any more bonds; thinks the last
straw breaks the camel's back, and
the last pound sinks the ship. How
many of our neighbors have long
since parted with their cattle, mort
gagged their farms, and have not the
whsrewith to support their families
In decency, yet the cry is more
bonds for him to pay.
MY farm is as good, as well stock
ed, as well managed as any farm in
the township, and about as good as
any one In The county, yet for the
seven years that I have been here,
l have only realized seven per cent.
per annum on the investment.
Three per cent. of this went for tax
&c, leaving me the enormous sum of
four per cent. We want more
bonds to pay the taxes, so l may
have seven per cent. left. Now we
have as good State as there is in
the Union, and as good a county as
there is in the State. There must
be something wrong somewhere.
The Governor truthfulIy says, in
mis- last annual message, "No peo-
pie can live and prosper under tax
alton of three to five per cent. of
Lhe whole value of their property,
and no power should be created or
allowed to exist for the creation of
,uch liabilities. If the affairs of the
State had been conducted in the
same disregard of ultimate results
hat has characterized county, town
hip and municipal administrations
he State would to-day have been
hope" Yet you want more
ponds. The trouble is we want to
,egin just where other states and
left off. We are too much
prone to step into our fathers tracks
nd live beyond our resources.
It is strange what figures will 6
onetimes show. Capitalists count .
heir money at compound interest.
We should do the same to compete
With them. Where is there q farm
r but what could take eur Bonded
ak and make . TO so per cent. in
attic, by putting his work with it.
)n dollar for 80 years at seven per
emit. compound interest amounts to !,
,76l mills. 100000 for the same =
ime will amount to $76I.235. In s