The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-03-05
ing to 1881 80 and the the parish
1886 60 aggregatiDg sls4i6 10. So

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1T viii be seen that the lands were
assessed ut less than five dollars per
acre and paid a tax for all purposes
Of less than eight cents per acre.
When this land is leased tue les
see who expeuds his time and labor
upon ii gets it at the price and sum
of four dollars an acre per annum.
Therefore these two little prin-
CAPABILITIES would yield to their lords
an annuity of $4,000 90 provid-
ed all the lands were open and
cultivable and that too without the
expenditure Of one cent for fencing
O.. other things necessary fur the
protection Of growing crops. For it
is fact beyond all dispute that
these contiguous properties are not
protected either by fence or by
law, from the cncroachments Of cat
tie.
No man knows what would be the
rent of lands here if the necessary
fences were up and in good condi-
ton.
The Citizens Bank leases its prop
erty in large tracts, to a few individ-
nails at reduced rates and realizes,
we presume, not more than $1,000 90
per annum. The. Calhoun people let
theirs in from ten to one hundred
acre lots and "gobble up about $40
900 90 h year. And this too, let it be
remarked, when not half the proper
ty is in cultivation. and when none
Of it is protected from the inroads Of
the beasts of the fields"
Therefore these two happy insti-
stutions can sit with folded hands
and with all their possessions unen-
numbered by the ordinary expenses
attached to such property, coolly and
calmly put away Sl3,5S3 20, their
tax receipts making up the deficiency
on the round $4,000 90 income.
Now the question arises land it
is very important question in our
estimation.) We naturally ask
"What is the value OF this property
Suppose. they had their money in.
vested in United States A per cent
bonds? What amount of capital
would they be required to have In
vested in order to realize an income
of IL. 500 90? The solution is sim
pie. They must have capital Of
$S37, 500 on, to say nothing Of that
valuable portion of their. propsrt,
for which, through their own nesli.
genee and want Of energy aud good
sense, they realize nothing bat the
| glory of broad acres" =
Again, suppose the owners d
these 1880 acres Of Red river land
shouldTconclude that they were rich
enough tand they certainly do no,
consider themselyes poor people now
and suppose they should take rest
as it were, from their arduons labors
aud give forth no evidence of life
other than a grim determination Il
cling to heir land What could the,
do? They could lease 355 acres Of
land at 81 per acre-pay their take,
with The proceeds aud have SO q
left to buy cigars with.
! 1t weuld be vain to venture a sur
mise as to Whit would be the vain,
| Of these estates if the same belonged
I to FIVE hundred men instead Of two
And yet 1T is within the province O
Of the taxing power of this State t
SO regulate the assessments as to re
quire the proper cash valuation o
this property. When that is done
when an acre of land belonging t
lsthe Calhoun estate or to the Citizen
Bank or to any other person eithe
artificial or otherwise can be pnt in
Ito the balances aud weighed wit
the same exactness and precisso
with which the poor decrepid ne
groes little Insignificant Texas pom
! is weighed then will the mighty land
! lords be found wanting. lhen an
not until then will lands be offere