The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-15
HOW IS THE WINTER OF OUR Discomfort
The Building of Railroads by Taxa
ton a Great EVIL wisish the Pru-
dent Citizen SirOuld Avoid.
GprrSwooD TOWNSHIP. |

GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP, Dec. IA, 1886.
Editor Press and Banner:
there appeared a very plausible piece TO the
voters OF Greenwood township, in behalf OF
subscription by taxation to the Chester,
Greenwood and Abbevillc Railroad. An elcc-
tion will no doubt follow soon.
Now, the first question for discussion is, "is
it right to build railroads by taxation ?"
Some will say the law allows 1t and 1t must
be right, but we say most emphaiicaliy IL is
wrong. Why compel large minority or even
q single man 1 put money against their VIII,
against their Judgment, and oltentime against
their interests iutoa private speculative en-
tcrprise-pubilc only in TIE sense that ~ Is a
public carrier? \ hig cotton factory at Green
wood would perhaps boom Greenwood ana
help the taX-pnyers Of Greenwood township
as much as q railroad by Keeping up the price
of cotton and increasing the price OF other
home products. But would anyone say that
IT would be right 10 tax the people of Green
wood township 10 build II factory? Taxation
for governmental and educational purposes
are fundamentally and absolutely necessary,
and even for these purposes, in view OF the
stringency Of the times, taxes should be no
higher than necessity imperativcly demands.
Taxation to build railroads Is wrong since
railroads are private enterprises and not ab-
solutcly necessary, and the benefits uccruetng
from them, If any there be, are uneVcnIy diS-
tributcd. To illustrate this latter point, the
Augusta and Knoxville Railroad was built by
taxation and no doubt 1t has helped The town
OF Greenwood and the vicinity, but there are
many men in the township who paid taxes
and who have not been benefited, ana there
arc others who have been damaged instead OF
nenetilted. We know men who have suffer.
ed seriously by depreciation in the value of
their property IN other towns.
We are not opposed to railroads but opposed
to building them by taxation. Let the parties
who see such - bonanza in them put theirown
money in them of their own free VIII ana ac-
cord. In this connection we will say that in
these railroad elections itma!ies big differ
kindeSt feelings toward Green wood, her pco-
pie be 1t said, are ever progressive, generous
and chivalronS. We rejoice in the prosperity
of Greenwood, our township scat and we only
wish that she coul be made county scat.
But after all If the people Of COronaca wanted
a competitive railroad would they get 1t? II
New Market wanted her competitive road,
would she get it? Echo answers, no.
We maintain that 1t Is wrong per Sc to build
railroads by taxation, but rs the law allows II
done. and there will be an election in Green.
wood township MS to whether her ncoplc shall
he taxed or not for building the g., q. IL A..
the question for them to decide in II business
like way, is, will their present embarrassed fl.
nancial condition justify them In increasing
the burden OF taxation, burden under which
many are already staggering? Weighed down
BY debt In consequence or bad crop seasons
and other misfortunes, they cannot stand
much taxation. The people Of the whole
State are pOverty-strickcn and we OF Green
wood township are no exception. The ma
iority Of ug are poorer than we were fiye, two
or one year ago and it. is not because of II lack
of railroad flciltlceS but because Of extrava-
gdnce and misfortune.
Now Is not the time to run further IN debt
simply to build another railroad. Let The
people get on terra firlna once again before
talk ing a turn in an uncertain and hazIrdouS
railroad deal. Railroads alone do not build
up a country, and even If the proposed road
with SO many blessings in disguise for prop.
erty owners in after years is buili, what go0I
will it do the man whose property IS all sold
by the Sheriff in the meantime for debt. The
, thing now is To get out Of debt and stay out OF
debt. The taxes, we arc told. will be exceed
ingiy light, Fifteen cents ON the SlOO worth,
afi or THAI - cents on the thousand" This we
do not understand. Will The Directors kind
ly explain Whatever the tax may he, one
and Il half mills, three. or five mills, when
voted 1t must be paid. There will be no Godg-
ing behind the homestead or legal exemption
as people are wont to do.
In conclusion, If the people Of Greenwood
township by voting taxation to this proposed
road which, seemingly, to some has millions
in it. insist on piling ON the agony. then we
cXclaim "ay on. McDutl, damned be he who
first cries hold, enough y
ANTI r. Il. TAX.