The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-21
IFor the Dispatch.}
The Jam es.RiYer KaiIrOad--.Cify Debt


The James.River KRflrOad--.Cify Debt
and City Taxes.
The Dispatch Of December 20 contained
the following: "In Springfield, ILL.,, the
total levy for taxes is S4.s55 on S100 worth
OF property" A few days previously it
had copied from Chicago paper state
ment that the assessment in that city was
81 per S100; and its issue OF the 5th instant
gives the rates in various towns in Ohio,
ranging from $1.67 to $500 and 1872 per
S100. The taxpayers OF Richmond ought
to be thankful to the editors for this infor-
nation, which was no doubt kindly meant
as warning Of what we may expect il
some of our TOO public-spirited and too
sangmne fellow-citizens are to have their
way in adding S2,0O0.000 to our city debt
at one dash, and S120,000 per annum to our
taxes. The New-Year's issue OF the Dis
patch also contains some figures which /
hope were we'll studied by all who bear the
burdens of taxation, for hey deserve TO be
recollected. They show that the debt OF The
city OF Richmond has been more than doa-
bled In the last eight yearS-viz., from
s., ,O92, ,252 to S4,45S. 945-and that the yearly
interest has been increased in still larger
proportion; for it is during this period that
all the eight-per-cent. bonds have been
issued.
How the rate of taxation has grown
meanwhile, the Taxpayers know only too
well, and they have doubtless duly noted the
recently-reported declaration Of the chair
man Of the Finance Committee OF the Coun-
Gil that the rate will have to be increased 25
cents on the $100, unless a material reduc-
ton is made in the expenditures OF the city;
otherwise it will be impossible to "make
both ends meet.'' And it is at this juno
ture OF increased burdens and lessened
ability to pay, by reason Of reduced income
from business and from the property to be
taxed, that we are called upon to assume
two millions more Of debt, with CORE
spending increase OF taxes. Taxpayers OF
Richmond, how do you like the prospect
Ii it is not pleasing to you. it is time your
voice was heard in protest.
several years ago the reckless increase OF
our debt led to an amendment Of the city
charter fixing limit to the debt, which it
was declared should not exceed Is per
cent. of the assessed value OF the real estate
in the city. This restriction, which met
with universal approval, was accepted, ooth
as protection to the taxpayers against
excessive burdens. and solemn pledge to
the city's creditors. Now tits proposed to
break this double compact. Already the
machinery is at work to get the charter
amended by the legislature, and those VINO
profess to be the representatives OF the tax
payers in the Council are busy in moving 1t.
How far it is designed to cut loose from the
restraints OF prudence and safety does not
yetappear, but there is no doubt that the
design is to compass, by one device or an
other, the addition Of S2,000,000 at once to
the CITY debt How much more is IN store
for us hereafter we can only conjecture.
| That more will inevitably follow no reason
able man can doubt; but the two millions
| added to the present debt will make an ag-
prepate equal to more than 90 per cent. OF
| the assessed value OF real estate, according
| to the State assessment, which the city ls
now obliged by law to observe.
II the taxpayers feel any repugnance to
this wholesale accumulation OF indebted
ness they ought at once to let their repre-
sentatives in the Council and in the Leglsla-
ture understand that they have an interest
| in this matter, and take care that amend
| ments to the charter are not smuggled
through which will lay them helpless at the
mercy of numbers, and subject them TO un'
limited burdens without their power TO pre-
vent it.
And for what purpose are we to shoulder
these two milIionsDf new debt which the
great men OF our city government talk so
| tightly Of? Why, to build railroad on the
bank OF a canal aohich has subiced, and moro
than sutfced, for all the transportation
acbich has euer been required OF IT.. No can
did man can deny that the James River and
KanaWha canal could have transported ten
times more freight than has ever been Of
fered to it. II it had not the requisite num-
Der of boats, these could at any time have
been provided at short notice. II the canal
has not poured boundless wealth OF pro-
ductions into our lap it is simply because
the James. River valley, whose untold riches
are now daily sung into our ears, has been
unable to furnish them.
| Beitremembered. too, that the cana, (which
is now so denounced as failure, is the very
same which only few years ago was eX-
tolled as tit to form part Of q "great central
water-line," connecting the waters OF the
Chesapeake with those of the Mississippi
| What has SO suddenly "changed the tune ~
! A flood which has seriously damaged the
canal, but by no means beyond the posi-
bility of restoration. On the contrary, we
are assured that, with the aid of convict
labor, the canal can be put in good order
again with very moderate outlay of money.
Iudeed, the president OF the canal company
has expressed the belief that when the re-
pairs are completed the canakwill be IN bet
ter condition for navigation than it has
been for many years past. But is the
How Jared it with the Seaboard and
/ Roanoke, the Petersburg and Weldon,
the Richmond and Danville, the Vir-
ginia Midland, and the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroads, during the November
foods? And suppose a railroad had been
i'm existence ON the to,o.patt OF The canal, as
now so loudly called for, what would have
become OF it in that angry turmoil OF wa.
ters? Willis Of our spractical" !" friends
tell us? The idea OF building railroad on
the canal-bank to escapethe danger OF flood;
to which the canal itself Is liable does seem,
i on plain. commoB-sense view OF the mat
ter, to be most chimerical. Yet we are called
4 on to give $2,000,000 for such railroad IL
order to avoid the expense OF S25,000 fol
the repair OF the canall Truly, no scheme
for heaping burdens upon people ever hat
less Justification.
/ iorbear. at present from entering upon
/ general discussion OF the various aspects o.
this question, my object being merely Z
cali the attention OF my fellow-tax-payers L
| The dangers which threaten them, and e
purge them not TO remain Idle and passiy'
4 spectators OF the movements which arc y
progress. "a :, !, - 81