The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-08
IBERvILLE.
The Weather-WOrk on the Texas Pacific
Trouble Brewing Between the city
ana Country I'm the Matter OF ASSESS
mPnfw.

ana Country I'm the Matter OF ASSESS.
ments.
| Especial Correspondence OF the Democrat
PLAQUEMINEs January 5, 1879.
"When all the hills are covered with snow.
I'm sure tbs winter fairly" has been said by
somebody, and under the rule SO laid down
we can have no imisgivings about winter.
Everything Is covered with ice and snow
here to-day 1t is thawing some now Il
o'clock p. m.), but you can still walk over our
muddy streets and banquettes with clean
shoes.
Our section Is generally
VERY HEALTHY, BUT DULL.
The weather has been 80 cold and Disagree
able no one ventures from the house, except
on urgent business. Next week, however,
we hope for better and more lively times here,
as our district court, Judge McVea, Is to
meet and will bring together number Of our
people as jurors, witnesses, ETC. There Is not
much Of docket, however, and the term will
doubtless be short.
The work on the Pacific Railroad Is pro-
crossing steadily towards this point from
above. Captain Hayden, in charge OF the
convict force, was here day or two ago to
make arrangements for new camps on the
river side OF the swamp, In the rear Of Bruley
Landing. We are promised visit from the
iron horse In four months, and II, as hear,
the Pacific has bought the old Chattanooga
road from your city to DonaIdsonville, the
gap between Donaldsonville and this place
can soon be completed, say within six months.
The Legislature meets tomorrow, and it ID
to be hoped this body will get earnestly to
work to devise some means to remedy some
OF the many evils bearing down upon our peO-
pie. Much good can be done, and let US hope
1t will be promptly and faithfully undertaken.
hox FRI On oil oil
and worst OF all we are making none. One OF
the worst Is the trouble brewing between
YOUR CITY AND THE COUNTRY"
as we term the other portions Of our State
That this is trouble there Is no doubt
and 1t Is growing huge and bitter on the part
OF your city, II one can Judge all he hears and
One thing is certain, our true interests are
common, and nothing should be permitted
to go on which tends TO cause feeling of dis
trust or Ill Will to grow up between city and
country. This feeling exists, however, and
the last week the speech Of Gen. Sswell be-
fore the Stock Exchange, and the report OF
the Grand Jury Of your city.
The burden OF Gen. Sewell's song seems to
cause too high, and to raise country taxation
three hundred per cent In proof OF the cor
rectness Of this, as far as the country Is con-
cerned, one single instance Is cited-the |
800, 600 plantation. Here we know some prop |
erty is assessed under its value, but we also |
know much OF our land Is assessed at more |
than 1t Is worth.
Gen. Sewell gives our State an area Of |
d, 100000 acres, and one would suppose 1t was |
al producing rich crops OF sugar, cotton and
cultivation, while millions OF this .'vast acre
age" are worthless, being marsh, swamp and
poor pine lands.
The last forced sales of wild lands we have
fitnto Ia In,
six thousand acres, belonging to the heirs OF
Thomas Mile and the old firm of Lauve 81
Mccall, and another lotto the estate Of VIM.
Bowman. The Mile lands were sold in ten
cents per acre, much Of 1t going for less than
zen cents, while the Bowman lands sold for
less. As we have plenty OF such lands
throughout the State, it is hard to see how
rom s75, 600 900 to $500, 100000.
II Gen. Sewell will read the present revenue
aw he will see he has made some wild state
ments, which, II corrected, would lead to
,ounder views than some put forth. We
need better laws than we have in this matter
u taxation, but they are not to be had by
,heorizing upon assumptions and extremes In
avor OF city or country. Salaried assessors
you'd help; Now they get . percentage.
However, Gen. SewelPs frame OF mind
towards the country Is not as bad as
THE GRAND JURY REPORT
If your city; and, while am willing to con-
,ede some latitude to this grand inquest In
ts structures upon the grievances 1t may
Wish to redress, the charge italicise In the
extract l here give l must pronounce SLAM
Ter.
"High taxation has driven the taxpayer to
ind relief In low assessments. BIZ the use of
corrupt means and the slsillfal mdnipulations
If country assessors, the country taxpayers
nave succeeded In throwing three-fifths of the
1urdpn of suDnOrtin0 the 9fatq IlDon the CITY - |