St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-08-16

The Opelousas Merchants Exchange
held several meetings last week TO con-
slider the question of applying 20 the
Police Jury for reduction OF the as
sessment Of the property of the Morgan
Railroad Company situated in that par
ish. The merchants aver that the man
Hesitation in that regard OF more llb-.
eral spirit toward that corporation
would rebound to the benefit OF the
general public; besides, they ,allege9, as
railroad property is assessed throughout
the State at $4,000 or less per mile, 1t
looks like unjust discrimination tor 81.
Landry to insist on the same figure rs
last year, viz: $500, despite the over
flow and the train of disasters winch
followed In its Wake.-Lake Charles
Echo.
In this connection we call attention to
the article we publish from the De-.
Soto Democrat, on excessive railroad
charges. We think the railroads should
manifest a more liberal spirit toward
the people. The property owners OF
Opelousas taxed themselves to buy the
right of way here for the Morgan rail-
road. A merchant here who does
large business, tried, we heard, to make
arran gements with the road to carry his
freight in bulk at reduced rates; but ne
was informed that the road was not run
for sentiment but to make money. we
also heard, that at the time the property
holders Of the town taxed themselves
to buy the right of way for the road
there was an understanding that the
rates for freight should not be higher
here than at Washington; we are in
formed that there is considerable DIFF
ference at the present time. The sher-
iff of this parish tried to take peniten-
tiary convicts over the road on commu-
tation tickets at three cents a mile, but
the road refused to allow it, and the
parish had to pay five cents per mile on
every penitentiary convict taken over
! it. The railroad has not manifested
any liberality towards those whose
patronage supports it, and it has no
right to expect any. But as matter of
justice railroad property should not be
| assessed lower in proportion than other
property. We have heard that rail-
| roads have been frequently mortgaged
for $50, 900 per mile; and it is matter
of fact that sensible business men do
not take mortgages on property for the
| full value threeof- there must be con-
siderable margin left to cover interest
that may accrue, and contingencies
This parish, therefore, in assessing the
railroads at $500 per mile, has not as
sessed them at more than one-fourth
their actual value. We doubt if there
ia a single residence in Opelousas that
is assessed near so low and the rail.
roads yield revenue, and the residence
Yields none to its occupant owner. II
the railroad assessments are to be re.
duced, every taxpayer in the parish
should go forward and demand reduc'
ton Of his assessment.
| Neither on account of sentiment" Of
"liberal spirit" or justice, have the rail
roads in this parish any reason to com
plain of their assessments. When tht
overflow damaged the railroads, the!
made the people pay for it by increas
ing the freight charges. The peopl
owe the railroads nothing, not evel
goodwill and the police jury which j
theoretically supposed to represent tn
people of the parish of St. Landry, an,
not railroad corporation, cannot justl
reduce the railroad assessment withou
: at the the same time reducing the as
sessments of all the property holders il
, the parish, in the same proportion.