The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-05-18
size Of Owosso that has as much 10
show for the money that has been ex-
pended for public purposes.
OWOsSO CITY.


cations which may see in any of our
county papers even although may
know at the time read the same
that it is false, for such commupica
tions are, as a general thing, Of such
character that they dc no harm and
are not worth our notice. But while
reading last weeks issue Of the "Shia-
-wassee American" there saw
communication contained in what is
termed the "Owosso Letter. that !
think in justice to The city and its
officers should be answered. The
part of the communication | refer
TO is rs follows "The city Of
Owosso paid $4,000 in taxes and
percentage on collection for the year
ending May Ist and this was poor
year for taxes too, as no school
bonds had matured Thus il cost us
ten dollars head for every MAJ, wo-
man, child and baby within the cor
poraton 70 run this beautiful little
city one year. The Mayor recon.
mends Improvements which will cost
| $4,000 and our funds in aid Of
! railroad will foot up $4,000.
Wherefore in the year to come we
stand chance of having 10 raise by
tax near $50, 900, or about $40
apiece. Ho, We farmers and strang-
ers, RI III into Owosso and help us
pay our beautiful little taxes"
The Reverend gentlemen vino
writes the 'NOwosso Letter for the
American asserts either what he
knows 10 be false or &c don't under
stand what he is writing about. But
supposing this city did pay $4,000
in taxes last year, according TO the
estimate that there is about one voter
to every. FIVE persons, we had, &C.
cording to our last registration, over
500 legal voters, which according TO
the above estimate would make our
population to-day in round numbers
at least 1900 souls how then, ask
you, can the Reverend gentleman
make out that our taxes last year
were $40 per capita.
have always noticed, and think
my experience has been the expert
ence of others, that the very men
who pay the least taxes are the ones
who are always grumbling about how
high they are, and such men are not
alone the curse OF this city, but Of
every such city in the land. They
are what we might call "chronic
grumblers, opposed to all and
every improvement that is or may
be advanced in such a place as this.
Now | assert, and / do so without
fear of contradiction, that the city OF
Owosso is the most economic city Of
its size in the west. We are to-day
in the best condition financially Of
any city of our size in Michigan.
As far as what our taxes will be in
the future sufficient to the day is the
evil thereof and if our Mayor does
recommend improvements let us
make the improvements he thinks
best and such improvements as Will
be for the best welfare of our city
in the years 10 come, and not be
scared by the bugbears and scare
crows that such grumblers as the
Reverend gentleman and his follow
ers would try to set up 10 scare peo-
pie who might be thinking of COM
ing here and buying property. For
myself, am in favor Of advancement,
and we surely cannot advance unless
we improve and keep pace with 9th
er cities of our size in the state, and
the only way we have kept the
grass from growing in our streets in
the past is the encouragement we
have given improvements and in
dustries; and where would we have
been to-day If we had listened to the
teachings of such men as the one who
writes the "Owosso Letter." am
afraid that the spot upon which the
beautiful city OF Owosto stands to-
day would have been wilderness.
1t is a sign of old age and decay to
be everlastingly chattering and grum-
bling against Improvements, and if
the Reverend gentleman does not