The Van Buren press., 1879-01-14
"peuuv-Wisc and 20 tnh-foolish.
independent Ataan,lan


Our State Legislature should eneour
age foreign capitalists to invest thei
money in our State by Il conservative an'
compromising policy, rather than xii
the goose that lays the golden eggs. lie
us get capital here i'll permanent invest
monts, and the waste places built up
| little before we become too rigid on thu
little already Invested, and by iooiisl
and unwisc course keep out the capita
we SO greatly noed III developing the re
sources OF our State Thc following
article from the Gazette with comments
! by the Fort Smith Elevator, is timely
and meets our hearty approval;
We publish to-day the following article
from the Little Rock Gazette, OF Dec
18th. Neregrot that we could not find
room for it last week. The subject is
one of vital interest TO the people Of the
whole State and the Legislators should
take the matter Of taxing the railroads
into consideration, and if it is possible
reduce the taxes.
"Arc there any of our readers, except
those directly interested, who are aware
of the large sums annually expended by
the different railways i'll this State, for
the purpose OF inducing immigration
We happen to know OF one railway
which has within the last three years,
spent 100000 for that purpose alone,
and is only now beginning to reap the
fruits OF its labors.
".hnd the State OF Arkansas is reaping
the benefit Of every dollar thus expended,
and the citizens along the different lines
Of railway, taken rs Il whole, were never
in as prosperous condition rs at this time,
and the business Of Little Rock itself has
never been better than at present, not
withstanding the unprecedented low
price of cotton. What the immigration
this last Autumn would have been had it
not been for the fear OF sickness, no one
knows. 1t is probable that the Iron
Mountain and Fort Smith Railways have
lost together over | 900 families, who
were deferred from coming simply from
the fear that the seourge that WAS ravag-
ing Tennessee and Mississippi would ap-
pear in Arkansas. That we shall event
ually derive some benefit from the fact
that our State escaped, is no doubt, but
it was n drawback this Fall.
"And yet the railways bear these
draw backs without any murmuring, but
pushing on, and without any hesitation.
do all they can to build up Arkansas
OF course it is for their own interests.
for everything that helps the State helps
them,
"But should not the State in its turn
help the railways? Their interests are
identical, aud II good liberal policy pur
sued by the State in the way Of taxation
would only be fair rccompehse to these
corporations for the large outlays they
have made.
"lt seems out of question at present
with the finances of the State in the con
dition that they are now III, that any one
should expect that the coming legisla-
ture would vote any adequate amount OF
money for State immigration bureau,
and Il small appropriation would only be
money thrown away.
TIL the finances Of the State get in
to good shape we say let railways keep
on in their good work, in advancing the
interests OF the State, and vice
versa, let the State aid the railways, by
every means in their power, and make
their taxes as low rs practicable.
I" When this is done, and is known to
be the settled policy nqtr thing $iattntf iii.
vestments OF foreign capital, The Pine
Bluff road will be an accomplished fact,
and the Joplin City and others will BE-
commenced at oncc.'