The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-11-01


the arguments that have been from
time 70 time made regarding the low
equalization placed upon the town
ship of South Haven by the board O
supervisors. The Messenger seems
to think that because Paw Paw i,
the county seat, it ought to pay more
than its share Of taxes. The follow,
ing is its argument:
"Paw Paw people propose to have
equalization if red hand : bills
printers ink and such black head
lines as these can bring about: is
South Haven village pauperized !?
Are fruit farms profitable" Should
the balance of the county be taxed
to keep this company (the Williams
Transportation Line) at South
Haven?' Apparently they DO not APP
preciate the immense importance
and honor of being at the county
seat, and are not willing to pay
therefor. Indications are that a
combination against us will be made,
and if we do not pay somewhat that
other towns ought to pay, we shall
be fortunate.
AS long as the average taxpayer
of Paw Paw is compelled to pay
1852 state and county tax while the
average South Havenite escapes
with only S1.31 for the same pur-
pose, the Messenger is IN no danger
from any combinations"
The News devotes it's attention to
the well known under valuation of
the Williams Transportation Com
pany, which is assessed at only $751;
600, at least 100000 less than the
true value of its taxable property.
Here is what it says:
"The Paw Paw folkses are getting
red in the face on tax appointments.
Perhaps they would like to have the
Williams Transportation Company
hail from that burg. 1t might adver-
tise them a little. But their one lit
tie schooner has to stub around in
South Haven waters. What kind
of scheme would it be to drive away
any property that can be retained?
Some ports are and have been offer
ing low rates for steamship companies
to hail their boats from there, as it
advertises the town, and is it not bet
ter for Paw Paw people to be hel ped
little rather than not at all? If Paw
Paw can find out that the boats are
paying less than other boats in other
harbors, then let us know. Or if you
want to send committee down to
Washington to lobby for an appro-
priation to cut ditch from South
Haven to Paw Paw, so that you can
come in out of the rain, why, that
will be all right. Maybe then you
can get some line of boats to hail
from the port Of Paw Paw. 1t looks
decidedly as though Paw Paw was
afraid of losing the county seat, and
proposes to raise kick ahead of
time"
This fails to show any reason why
Paw Paw or any other township
should be compelled to pay more
than a fair proportion of state and
county tax simply because the Will
liams company is a good thing for
South Haven. Having no argument
to advance, the News resorts to rid
icule. We have not the slightest
objection to the entire tax of the
Williams company being RENTED if
South Haven wishes it, provided
South Haven pays the tax and does
not compel us to do so by an unjust
equalization.
The Sentinel reverts to the state
ment that South Haven is fractional
township, wholly ignoring that all
comparisons chat have been made
have been based upon comparative
areas. The Sentinel is so sarcastic!
Witness the following from its col
umns:
"The NoRTHERNER seems to have
a kick coming because six miles
square of Paw Paw territory is valued
by the supervisors at more money
than the same amount in South
Haven with four miles of the north |
end of the latter covered by the waters
of the lake. Let that township hold
her peace, and perhaps some day we
may be as rich as she now is. To pa
rade our poverty is something the
NoRTHERNER ought to be more kind
in heart than to do like this: South
Haven people are even poorer than
we thought. Outside of the village
with the exception of one banker who
is assessed $4,000, the entire person
al assessment amounts only to the
paltry sum of $4,000, and not a man
is assessed to exceed $500 on per-