The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-03-17

But if it is voted at all, with or with.
out consideration, the only excuse fol:
the only foundation upon which it can
rest, is that it will thereby promote the
public good-the general welfare
Will it do that9 If so how? l mean
will the tue have this ehect-not will
the railroad benefit US, because dc
not propose to discuss what is not de.
MED.
WILL THE TAX BRING THE RAILROAD!
ANY sensible man who will stop to
think a moment, will at once recog.
nize the fact, that if the railroad men,
the builders, 1 mean-find it to be
their interest to come here, they will
come here, as the other two did with
ont any tax-and that if it was not to
their interest to come here, they would
not 60 out of their way, and spend ten
or twenty times that much, just for the
sake of getting our $4,000 or $780,
600 or $4,000 whatever the amount
may be. l am informed by those who
ought to know, that five mill TAG up
on the present assessment in Alexand-
ria would realize $4,000 per annum.-
Then why pay for something which
we will have or not have, regardless.
of the taxi We had better wait until
the promised benefits have been real
lied, if We are to make donation out
of pure and simple gratitude. If we
are too proud to accept gratuitously
favors and too naughty to rest under
unrequited obligations rendered and
must grow FESTIVE because of unpaid
for prosperity thrust upon us, let us
wait until the gratitude has been earn
ed, the favors have been granted and
the obligations incurred. If then we
must be generous before we are just,
in paving the debts we have at home
careful of obligations to strangers and
careless as to our home affairs, why
then we can make the donation with
our eyes open and understandingly.
is THE TAX MONEY TO BE A DoNA-
TIoN?
This question has been answered
affirmatively and anthoritatively by
the railroad gentlemen who were here
last week and who are the very ones
the only ones to answer the ques-
ton. Let them speak for themselves
in reply. | clip the following from
the New Orleans Picay,tne of the 18th
instant:
A CATEGORICAL INTERVIEW WITH THE
RAILROAD PROJECTORS.
ALEXANDRIA,, March 10. FSpecial1-
The following officials of the Louisiana,
Arkansas and Fort Scott Railroad arrived
here this morning and were met at the de-
pot by representative men of our city,
viz Gen. John H. Rice, Col. l.. L. Bush,
President; Col. A. A. Harris, Attorney for
road; w. M. Whitman, General Engineer.
There will be a mass meeting at the Court
House this evening and the audience will
be addressed by those gentlemen. They
will leave here for your city by the Paci-
fie Railroad at 8 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. Knowing that the general public
would be interested in the matter, your
correspondent deemed it expedient to in
terview President Bush on the following
leading questions as to the prospect his
road had made, and which he courteously
but not quite SO fully as we
would wish:
l. Do you propose to build the road or
get some one else to do sol
Answer-We propose to build it our
selves.
O. What guarantee have our people as
to your ability to build the road, as to
your certainty of building the same, and
in what specified tilnes
Answer-Before you people need run any
risk as to our ability, etc, mentioned, we
can furnish security from banks from the
East. AS to the time Of completion, we
can't answer, as that will depend upon the
sbrface of the country through which the
line runs.
3. Why do you want the people to give
the tax?
Answer-Because we want them to be
interested in the road.
4. What do you propose to do with the
raised by taxi
Answer-Apply same to the payment OF
interest on the money used to build the
road.
s. Will you Obligate yourselves to con-
meet Pineville and Alexandria with a
bridget
Answer-We will do more than that
we will obligate ourselves to build pub
lie road bridge, but, understand, not free
for transportation.
6. Would you be willing for the tax
money to be given upon the condition
that it is to be used exclusively for assis-
lance in building the bridge across the
Rivera
Answer-We would not obligate our
selves to anything of the kind.
Z. What else beside the tax do You de.
mand from our peoples
Col. Bush here said that Gen. Rice had
that matter in charge, and would answer,
which he did.
Auswer-Theright of way, depot ground
where needed and donations of timber
lands as heretofore promised by the Aux
iliary Committee.
Q.-Will you obligate yourselves to 10.
cate your workshops, ETC., in Pineville
OF Alexandria I
Ave can't do that.
CAN THEY BUILD THE ROAD?
We have heard much talk here Of
the great wealth of this syndicate,
When they are asked the question
they reply that they intend to build
the road themselves. AS appropriate
to this question / quote the following
taken from the Shreveport Times o.
the 10th inst:
Representatives of the railway syndi
o,a, 4b,+ 90, +o l,,:1d %ro ,,,J C,,+l