Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-07-19

increase or county IhX..................633 CTS
In 1854 the County Tax was one cent less,
"a cents on the 500.
In other words, while there has been a de-
crease in State Tax of 25 per cent, there has
been an increase in the County Tax of over
$50 per cent.
The tax payers naturally inquire for what
and what have we to show for the large in
crease in our county expenses2
Since this period there has been two general
assessments of the property of the county,
each of which has shown enlargement and in
crease Of the basis of taxation. This ought
to have lessened the annual levy instead Of
increased it. But not wilhs,anding this en-
largement, the late OF taxation has gone on at
the same time steadily to increase, and this in
crease seems to have been going on long before
the present levy for the Jail and aims house
was thought Of II must have primary cause
and object 10 trace this may be the subject of
future inquiry. The effect will be 10 para!yze
industry and economy and check enterprise
and prosperity.
There are strong reasons why Montgomery
should have a lighter rate of taxation than
most counties of the State;
l. In the neighborhood of Brookeville and
Mechanicsville and Sandy Spring, where no
grog shops are asked for or tolerated and from
whence no presentments or inquistions go to
miles of public road is taken off of the county
aud kept in repair exclusively by those who
use it, thus costing the county not one cent
and saving the county at least 81 900 Fer an
mum.
g. The Chesapeake & Ohio canal on the west
ern border furnishes next to free water navi.
cation the cheapest mode OF transportation in
the world, thus .su9erceding the necessity of
costly county roads parallel with il in its
| neigborhood
3. The same may be said of the Meiropoli-
tan railroad, which for thirty miles runs
through the centre and heart OF the county,
thus affording 10 all residing near il for several
miles on either side, quick, ready, cheap trav-
| ell and transportation at all seasons, and vastly
superior TO those living eight, ten or twelve
miles therefrom, who certainly, according TO
all rules of right and equity, ought not TO be
taxed to keep up roads for those having such
superior advantages. 10 this connection per-
nit me TO ask the attention of the Honorable
County Commissioners 10 the fact that the
Code provides for the mode and means for
opening private as well as public roads, and
many of the petitions for opening of roads on
| the dividing line of Mr.. Smiths and Jones
farms afford the best evidence that private in
terest had more to do with the application for
such roads than the interest aud convenience
Of the public.
Again in the matter Of public schools
Montgomery has an advantage over most Of
her sister counties. Her three endowed Acad-
emies, namely, the Rockville Academy, Brook
vile Academy, and the Andrew Small Acade-
my, affording cheap, and, TO a considerable ex-
tent, gratuitous education within the county.
In addition, there are several we'll conducted
private schools in Rockville, Brookeville San
dy Spring and Poolesvile, altogether afford
ing remarkable facilities for home education
within the county. II canno. therefore be
necessary that school house should be built
almost at every other farmers gate or cross
road. There is such thing as being gener-
Gus aud patriotic over much, and in this mat
ter of opening private roads q, public expense
and building so many new school houses and
curtailing our Court expenses there is GER
| tainly room for reform.
Until such eating moths and growing ex-
penses shall be checked and reformed the tax
payers Of Montgomery need not hope for re-
lief, but may with certainty look forward to Q
continued and proportionale increase for the
next twenty-five years as has taken place in thu
past twenty-five years, and then contiscaten OIL
population the natural result OF such oppres
sion will follow. A. d. d.