The Opelousas courier., 1885-01-31
Back TAX Sales.

lG is TO De H0peu, lOf the benefit D
the State, of the public schools and o
the property holders themselves, tha
the very stringent laws regarding The
sales of property for the non-paymen
of taxes will not be further neglected
and the final sale of these properties
made.
If these back taxes are paid, as they
should be, and if the owner of these
properties bid them in, instead of let
| ting them fall into other hands, it will
leave the State with large school
! fund that will prevent Louisiana from
being further criticised for neglectine
it's schools. The Legislature has pro.
vided that after the payment of the ba-
by bonds falling due in 1886, and which
is to come out of the back taxes, thA
surplus, shall go towards the school
fund. There is, it SO happens, very
large amount due, many people having
held back because the old laws ON this
subject were not stringent enough, and
because they hoped for some escape
from paying anything-far more than
sufficient to pay the bonds, and which
when the money is collected will leave
more than million of dollars for the
schools. Those, therefore, who now
pay not only escape heavy penalties
and the loss of their property, but their
money will go to one of the best pur-
poses for which the State can expend
1.-THE schools.
The fact that some of the old laws
relative to the sale of property for back
taxes proved Intellectual has resulted in
persuading many persons who. have not
given the subject sufficient attention
that the present law would also prove
imperative. This unfortunate mis-
take is likely to cause them a great
deal of trouble and some very severe
losses.
The present law is based upon an Or
dinance of the Constitution itself which
directs the sale of all property upon
which the taxes, together with the in
terest, penalties, costs, fees and other
charges have not been paid up to Jan
uary, 1880, the title of the purchaser at
this tax sale being full and complete
The Legislature, under this provision
of the Constitution, passed an act regu
lating the manner of selling this pro-
perty, providing among other things
that the title to it shall be final and
complete and that it shall not be sub
ject to redemption. If no bid is made,
the State can buy in the property it
self. The sales were begun under this
act sometime ago, much property being
sold and more adjndieated to the State
itself. In order tG1sas9alize from the
vast amount of real estate thus acqulr-
ed, the last Legislature provided for
its sale. Under this act, the sheriffs
have prepared a list of these properties
and will begin selling them during Feb
ruary.
The State does not desire to become
a land speculator, all it wants is the
back taxes due it. Here, there is fine
field for investment and here is the
last opportunity offered the former
owners of these properties to buy them
IN By paying the amount due ON them.
AS we have already said the law rela-
tive to these sales is ironclad. It has
been passed on frequently by the courts,
which have decided that it is legal and
good and the title passed by it perfect
Those who desire to obtain real estate
At the sery cheapest figures have here
IN opportunity to purchase; those who
10 not wish to see their property pass
away from them forever have one last
chance to rescue it. They will'have the
of knowing alse that what
hey pay now will be expended to pre-
serve and advance the credit of the
State, and above all, that it will place
our public schools on solid basis. Fer
heir own protection we hope the pro-
oerty holders whose lands and houses
lave been sold will seize this opportu-
lity now offered them and pay their
lues to the State. They are necessary
or the support of the schools, and the
is acting wisely in pressing
IN act as stringent and severe as that
lnder which these sales will take place.
N @. Times Democrat.