The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-06-25
Reply to P. F. Shumakcr on the Raj
Read Tax.
WINFIELD La.
june 2Jrd., 1856. I

june 2jrd.. loS6.
Editor Southern SeEtinel:
In yonr issue OF June 18th. inst, see
an article from MIR. z. +. Shumaker OF
the proposed rail road tax. From the
tenor Of the article.refered to, one would
think Mr.. Shumaker opposed to said tax.
He says, that for once IN life he thinks
he is on the big side of a question. Now
Mr.. Shumaker, if had just passed the
terminus Of my public road Career
$50 years. aud never before had been on
the .'big side" of a "a estion. should
now doubt seriously, whether was on
the proper side even ut this time. Mr.
Shumaker readily admits, that two rail.
roads are needed, and projected through
the parish, and even intimates that he
might vote 4 tax to be proraied between
The two roads. Now about these projcc-
ted roads, let me say that they have been
talked Of till it is All old song. We have
been waiting for somebody else to do
something long enough; and, it were
high time already, that we were doing
something for ourselves in this respect
IT'S true, thsse roads may be built some
day, but this generation wants and
nee ds them nvsc.
The 5 mill tax, as Mr.. Slumsker SAYS,
viii amount TO about S30OO0.0O on the
present assessment in ten years, and af-
ter that amount is paid We will own no
part Of the road; but, this is NOT the
light in which we should look ut this en-
terprise. Mr.. Shumaker neclects to
mention. that before any part Of this
f3O00O.OO be paid, the 80 miles rail
road to which he refers, will be taxable
property in the PARISH. together with all
its rolling stock, depot grounds etc;
sufficient to Increase tie taxable property
in the Parish two fold what is to-day,
without saying any thing Of the capital
that would be invested here, aud hence
would enable the authorities to decrease
the rate Of Parish taxation from the
present rate; besides We would have
plarket for our surplus products, that
yield US but little income to-day.
II We're to make the assertion that
this parish pays each year i've times the
that the rail road tax would
amount to, in disposing Of its produce
together 18th the amount Of freiyuts
brought into il, it might be thought au
crroncoIs assertions; but ! Gully ask, that
each one Who reads this and doubts the
sit down and make calculu-
ton Of the cost Of hauling to a..d f.sm
market fur bis own plantation (iakiny into
consideration time feed f..r team wear and
tear Of wagon team &c., and then con,-
pare with the amount lie would pay the
vi road for that year, ii lie does not lind
/ 5. y then ! cannot make comparison.
)ue a. stion alone is sufficient. to con-
luce an, one that this tax would be
,aYing inres lent to the people, that Il
,Wby does eve. = man in the parish who
:pn,rois bis op y. ducts, haul the same
. Monroe, Arc,a:s, sxandria, or 9TH
y rail road poinss IN pr <encc to SELL
ng same here, aud buying ,.ssir neces-
ities there Instead Of here.n TLsxeason
, apparent y every one, better 5ary. rs
an be GLt0iayd. -
Let US not walt for tie rail road TO |
'o'ns Of is own accord. or it may pass
vs.. our graves. We must offer indace-.l
nenss, 1--WE expect rail ROADS to pass
hfot;sA our parish, and capital to be In
rested here, ia other words we must
llck 4 We expect people to know that
sc are alive. It has been said that the |
l'noIsnt u tax that We would pay, would |
= no inducenaent, but think the a.
mount Mat would he paid by the ) par
shes, through which II would run (and
VIM the least In taxable property,
Avuid e considerable Involvement. |