The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-01-17
TAXATION COULD BE REDUCED.

There is a universal cry for the reduc-
ton of taxes. But the State, county and
municipal government, must be main
tanned, and the per centum of taxation
must be at rate to furnish the necessa.
ry means. Increase the assessable val
ues and decrease the rate per centum.
Increase of population will make pos
sible higher and better civilization in
large areas of our State, where to-day,
owing to paueity OF population, our peo-
pie are practically in semi-civilized
condition. Man is a social being, and
for a people to have the benefits of civil
cation, they must be settled sufficiently
close together to support churches and
schools and make roads. Easy commu-
nications correct bad manners, Difficult
communications perpetuate bad man.
ners.
The power of a State depends on its
aggregate physical, intellectual and NOR
al force. The highest aggregate of this
can only be obtained by enlightenment
Enlightenment can come only through
schools and churches, and over good
roads. Tricky settled countries are al
ways the most prosperous, intelligent
and happy.
BY proper steps to secure immigration
our population could in few years be
doubled, and in the course of years be
quadrupled. Unless we do something al
once, the more entepprising generation
| to come after us will reap all the bene
fits of appreciated values and higher
civilization and we, in our day and gen
Grafton will struggle for mere existence
and large areas of our God-blessed coun
try, during our present generation, al
| least, will remain semi-civiliZed.
| Just now, owing to the droughts anC
billiards. in the Northwest, there is al
almost universal desire among the PEG
| pie of that section to migrate to more
| genial climate, and to one, where there il
not an eternal fight with adverse nature
Thousands of these people are looking tt
Tennessee. Their fight for existence in
the North has developed them into &
hardy, industrious, and thrifty people
| They are Americanized. They are either
native born, or have been in Ameri
ca long enough to have learned our Ian
guage, manners, and customs. They are
most desirable immigrants. They ar
going to migrate. How are we to get
these home-seeking immigrants
Our Centennial Exposition in 1896, af.
fords the best possible means of making
known to them, as we'll as to the whole
world, the advantages OF our climate
| soil and vast timber and mineral resourc
es. These people were mislead into the
| Northwest. They are now cautious, and
propose to make no more mistakes
They are sending out committees to in
vestigate and report on different local
tiles.
At our Exposition, If it is what il
should be, these committees can see at a
glance what our Stateis-what advantages
it offers. Without the labor, time anC
expense of travelling over vast areas
they can see in miniature our State
and learn all about it. When they
see, there is no question what theil
report will be. The Exposition will
bring to Tennessee thousands of home
seeking American citizens who will devel
op our resources and make our State in in
telligence, wealth and power, what il
| should be. The counties which make
the best exhibit at the Exposition viii
| first attract and secure the benefits o.
this immigration. Every county should
make the best possible exhibit.
The value Of this Exposition to Ten
nessee will be invaluable.
1t will give us the desired immigEa
ton, with all the benefits of filling w
our waste places and giving to large sec
tions much higher civilization. 1t will
bring capital, brain and Drawn to utilize
and develop our vast'natural wealth.
Besides the historic and educational
features of this Exposition will revive
our patriotism and State pride.
The Exposition appeals to the selfist
interest, as well as the pride and pa
triotism of every Tennessean.