St. Paul daily globe., 1893-01-29

are not Sufllclently posted 10 ueUect INC
thin mask to cover up the real truth.
Whose interests does this windy article
really defend? Is it not the interests OF
the owners of the "only available site
and of those who own the real estate in
the vicinity OF that site? Wherever the
capitol goes it will increase the mar
ket value of surrounding land. Why
does the p. p. carefully avoid anyal-
lusion to this fact in its make-believe
that the Midway idea ''rests on no bet
ter foundation than real estate specu-
lauion?' From the expose L have made
of its false. and misleading statements
what do you, reader, think about the
foundation of the ''three-Quarter OF
mile" limit?
But | have not yet done with this
Crowd of Pharisees.
| shall. however, be as brief as pOSSI-
bic out Of consideration for the readers
time.
In its reference to the cost of the
building, the p. P. iDdorses the re
duction" of the limit of from So, 000,0
to S2,000,00 as a "WlSe move," and also
manifeStS its interest for the poor tax
payer by favOring 1.-THE provision that
this amount should be raised by very
small tax levy spread over series OF
say ten years, the building progressing
as it is paid for, will prevent the burden
from being felt severely"
Ten years! If the capitol is to be ten
years building is it fair to allude to the
present condition of the Midway dis
trict. even if that condition had been
correctly stated If it were argued
against the site that the p. Z. is trying
to boom, that there are many poor and
unSightIy buildings i'll its nelghbofhood,
the Z. p. would answer that during the
ten years that it will take to finish the
state house, all these buildings will dis
appear and be replaced by handsome
structures.
Admitting that the P. P. prairie is not
as sCidly built up as the two eXtreml-
ties, it embraces nevertheless within
radius OF three miles all the institutions
previously mentioned, and a popula-
tion OF not less than $4,000 people.
The fact is that the Midway property
is all owned by substantial men. aud
there is no chance for that crowd OF
mortgage Wreckers to get hold of it, as
they can those unsightly buildings.
This p. p. article is an insult to the
citizens of the state. Its motive is
plainly visible. while its past record is
sufficient to exclude its Judgment.
Question of EaXltiOn.
But seriously, fellow taxpayers, let us
view this from rational point of view:
The conversion OF ten acres of land i'll
the central and closely built portion OF
the city. apart from the cost of mill
ion dolalrS or more, either to the munich
patty or to the whole state, will be
great loss in aSSeSSaDle property. The
rate of taxation in st. Paul is within a
fraction of 2 per cent; in ten years the
balance OF the property would nave
paid an additional S200,000. This is
serious question for the already over
Durdened taxpayers to consider; for the
remedy is to be found i'll placing the
capitol where a much larger site can be
had for nothing, and where it will in
crease the value of a much larger area
of taxable property; which means tend
to a reduction in the rate OF taxation,
instead of an increase. This is the en-
lightened and progressive spirit In
which to view it.
1t seems to me that since all but one
of the capitol commissioners have utterly
failed in their duty to the state, and
have ignored the rights and convent
enceS Of the great mass OF the citizens
of both Cities that the legislature should
appoint another commission TO lnveStl-
gate what was done by the present
commission, and why the location OF the
site should be limited to not over three
quarters of a mile distant from the
Pioneer Press building. 1t ought to do
so. 1t is due to the people of the state
to know definitely the truth or false
hood in the allegations made in the edi-
torial | have referred to. They are
false; and the falseh0od has been de-
liberate What considerations have in
fluenced the writer should be unearthed.
His sanity admonition about capitol
scandal" deceiveS none but the un-
witted. 1t is the very beginning OF cor
rupt jobbery. W. w. WOODRUFF.