Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1891-03-29
TAG cAisaiN Ann BOISE RAIL.
ROAD.

Among all the laws passed by a
Nevada Legislature, none, perhaps,
wss ever 70 universally condemned by
the people OF Elko county as Assem-
bly, bill No. Ill, authorizing the
building OF a railroad from Carlin via
Tuscarora to Boise City, Idaho. In
Interviewing a largo number OF tax
payers, botn OF Elko and other parts
ot the county, We have yet to find a
single one who believes the building OF
tho road would be an advantage 10
i4..Lo county; but on tho contrary NIL
believe that it would be a positive
detrimeut to us. II it was n through
line, parallel with tho Central Pa
chic 30 that We might hope for q re-
d LECTION in freights there might be
s,me argument in favor Of the meas
NE; but us it is, should the road TO
t,dilt it will not be Il competing line
either East or West, AMI while 1t
might be, and no d ,ubt would be, an
Vantage to u few mining companies
W ruscarora, it would destroy the
lncnl market for grain nrd hay upon
which the agricultural industries u
the county depend.
The people at tho county are in-
diSnant because the Elko delegation
il the Legislature introduced and Ia
rJred the measure without ever con-
, sul.ing their constituents as to their
views on the proposition; aud besides
this, they coulI not have forgotten
the action taken on n similar PROPOSE
tim four years ago, when a mass
Iuoetins OF tho citizens ms held and
resolutions condemning the measure
werc unanimously passel. NUtwith-
standing this, the bill was introduced
ia the Assembly by the Eiko deleSa.
ton and pushed through without
even asking tho taxpayers, or any OF
them, what they thought Of tho mat
ter; and they foel uggriovod that they
were not consulted by my represent
tat,ve in eithcr House on IL matter OF
such vital importance TO tho welfare
Of the county.
As to the bonds provided for in tho
Act there is n variety ot opinion;
some contendinS that il the bonds lie
issued the county is held responsible,
others holding that they IL only be
paid from the taxes derived from the
road. II the litter theory be true
tho bonds are practically worthless,
rs il takes no great amount Of math!,-
matical skill to prove that tho revenue
derived from the road will not near
ply the interest, to sny nothing OF the
principal Of said bonds. But il it be
True as claimed that tho only object
in tho issuance OF said bonds is prac.
t:cally exempt the road from taxa
tionwhy should the county issue bonds
for ii greater SUN pr m'le than just
sufficient to absorb in interest the
total revenue derived from taxes?
And why should an enterprise be ex-
apt from taxation nnloss the coun-
~ at large Sould DO benciitted thero-
by?
The Constitution provides, Soc. Q,
Article VIII, that "Ail real property
and possossory rights to the same, rs
we'll as personal property in this
State, belonging to corporations now
existing or hereafter created, shall be
subject to TAXATION tho same rs prop.
erty OF inlividuals"; anil Sec. l, Art
ic!e X, that "The Legislature shall
provide by law for 81 uniform and
equal rate OF assessment and taxation,
and shall prescribe such regulations
as shall ecure n just valuation for
taxation Of all property" etc. In the
TACO OF these plain provisions OF tho
supreme law OF the State, tho repro
sentatives OF Elko county to tho Fit,
iernth Session OF the Nevada Legis,
hture, without tho consent OF their
constituents, have secured tho pas
cage OF an Act authorizing u grca,
corporation to own property in the
county, nnd operate the same for their
own bensft exempt from taxation for
t.onty-tive years, while private indi,
r,duals who have labored for years to
d~s:elop its are compelled TO
contribute Of their earnings n suli'
ciont amount 10 support tho county
government.