Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-11
o. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.


the Advocate, in their issue Of last
Saturday, came out sQuarely in oppo-
sition to the lease of some city front
for q landing and depots for the N. y.
Pacific Rail way Company, unless the
latter is made topledge an extenslonof
this road into the interior coun-
try, east of the Mississippi.
The Advocate goes Oh to style a
monopoly, the establishment OF
wharves and depots, for the convent
cnce of the public as well as its own,
by the first railroad that has appeared
in the vicinity Of Baton Rouge.
We do not deem it necessary to en-
ter into a lengthy discussion of this
matter and will only speak of the Ell
fects of the refusal Of the Council
TO facilitate the Company as far as
it can, without inhicting pecunlary
loss or expense to the city Of Baton
Rouge.
It's very easy to see that in case the
advice of the Advocate prevails, the
Company will simply establish its
wharves and depots below the city.
There such property will be exempt
from city taxation and steamers most
of whom would land there, would
also be exemp. Of city wharfage dues.
Then our citizens and visitors going
TO and from here, would have to be
taxed about twenty-five cents each
way by a few hack drivers. This
would, of course, be very advantage
Gus to the hack drivers, but the ques-
ton is whether our confreres, for in
stance, prefer to pay this extra tax
OF fifty cents every time they go to
New Orleans; and if they do, are they
in favor of making every person IN
Baton Rouge, or those coming here,do
the same thingP
If there are more hack drivers than
travellers then we say: work tor the
benefit of the hack drivers. II not,
let us do the most good to the great
est number: the people.
1t can easily be perceived that the
establishment of wharves and depoti
below the city, will tend to bring the
business as near there as possible tt
the detriment of the merchants anC
property holders of the city, whose
interests instead Of being advanced
would certainly be greatly injured
at the same time that our people
would be inconvenienced III more
ways than one.
These are a few Of the many rea
sons which have prompted the CAPT
ToLIAN to favor the location Of TIT
railroad landing and depot, where
they will be as near the centre of TIT
city as possible.
Every one who mas had occasion t
travel on the Jackson Railroad, who's
depot is situated on the outskirts o
New Orleans, knows how inconvenl
ent it is for travellers to reach it.
Shall we drive our first raiiroa'
beyond the city, where, il rain
weather, people will have to wad
through halfa mile ofmud, to reac
the depot as at DonaldsonvllIe'
Our contemporaries, both lawyers
have pulled out the Constitution
show that cities cannot grant or dc
nate lands, credit, property or thing
to railroads or other corporations, an
they stretch the constitutional prov
sion by saying that it means thu
leases for nominal prices shall not /
given.
We would like to know OF thel
what amount is designated by law
a nominal price, so that the Counc
may guide itself accordingly if
should prefer to have the railroad d.
pots within easy access Of the pus
ness centre.
We would also ask Our confreres
tell us how much revenue the rlv'
front between America and spa
brings to the city: and also the ba
ture adjacent to the coal yard? /
their answer to this question we W
tell them how much the interest
Baton Rouge would be affectt
by the lease in question. While the
on, Of +biS wont they firurp nm ho