Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-06-08

patronage-well, there are no words
adequate to give it expression.
Two years ago we kept standlg for
weeks, challenging refutation, table
showing that all that part of Allega-
ny west of Dams mountain loses annu-
ally not less than SCI 900 by its asso-
citation with Cumberland. That table.
was based upon the annual levy OF
1875, basis which has not since ma
terially changed. In 1876 west AL
legany paid $7l,703; east Allegany,
$40,72 During the same time $4l,-
1850 of the taxes were paid out in
west Allegany, and $79,2l3,50 in east
Allegany, in the first place $22,979
against US, and in the second place,
about $4,000 against us. Total,
SCI, 900 in round numbers.
On these official figures we based
our argument for new county, and
Cumberland furiously fought the
project because she knew we were
killing the goose that laid her golden
eggs.
However, without referring to the
fact, Notwithstanding this great dis
parity against us, that in that levy
Cumberland received $4,000 specially,
while Frostburg and Westernport, to-
gether received 0Nonaconing Bar
ton, Mt. Savage, etc., nothing) or to
the little complaint about country
roads, our humble judgment is that
special appropriations to corporations
ought to be stopped. No localities are
specially entitled to contributions from
the public faoadsl Let them go equi-
tably to all sections of the county in
the same proportions those sections
pay. Lop off favoritism to towns be-
cause they are towns. The law does
not warrant such preferences or pat
ronage, and the present commission
ers will earn the lasting gratitude of
the country people if they wipe out
the pernicious custom entirely. These
people will also have voice in mat
tiers that rebound" "The overbur-
dened taxpayers of the city" indie ed !
The countryman of Georges Creek is
your truly overburdened taxpayer.
He is the man who pays sixty cents Of
every dollar paid in the county and
gets back twenty cents in the division.
The Allegaaalan further remarks:
This city could be made independent of
the county, and carry on full county
government for at least $4,000 3 year
less than we now pay to carry on the city
and county government, and there is
no reason why we cannot be q county
within ourselves. The commissioners
sre called upon to give us liberal ap.
preparation much more than the contract
ed policy of the former administration
gave us.
We shall have something more to say on
this subject before the levy is m ade; when
we will show by facts and figures the
great injustice heretofore done the city in
the matter of this levy asked for.
And the county could get along
nicely independent Of the city on
one-half of what it now costs US. We
can afford to make Cumberland a pres
ent of our interest (about three-ffts)
in the courthouse and Jail and build
our own besides, and make money by
the transaction.
Such being the facts on both sides,
in the name of mutual interest let us
seperate and each go to housekeeping
on our own account.
The next day the Allegamian comes
out with the following paragraph:
With the decrease in the property valua-
| ton and the increase in other expense in
Allegany, together with the increase of
the State tax, we question whether our
commissioners will be able to keep the tax
cs down; and we shall be pleased if the levy
is not greater over last year than is shown
by our neighboring county (Washington.)
| The commissioners have been and will con-
| tinue to work on an economical basis,
without being misery or even penurious
without saving at the spiggot, with
leak at the bung-hole. We have every
confidence that every member of the board
| will look to the interests of the people of
the county, and see that no onerous bur
dens are imposed upon the people,
We entertain the same confidence
in the Board, and, if not too late, COM
mend to their discretion and good
sense all our remarks upon the propri-
ETY. of looping off one illegal and USE
less expense.
DEMOCRATS will find an interesting
communication elsewhere. 1t con-
tains some Important SUGGESTIONS bY