The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-02-11
THE TAX QUESTION.
MIR. III. e. FRIES, OF SALEM,
WRITES ABOUT 1T.
We Need Diversity of Business Inter
ests, the Enlargement of Plants
Now in Existence, Increased
Number as to Population.

Editors Sentinel.
l noticed in your paper on last Sat-
urday evening a communication on
the tax question Of your city which
seems to me is ca a!culated to du an in
jury to your town and an Injustice to
our entire community. The growth
and prosperity and future, nf DO b
Salem and Winston, are so closely
allied and interviewer, that what af-
fects one ibjuriously cannot help bu:.
reflect on the other, and what affects
one favorably must of necessity be OF
advantage to the other. The statement
therefore made by your CORES ponient
that the rate in your city OF 81. .35 for
city tax was keeping many citizens
from locating here, may doubtless
have some effect in keeping persons
away; but such publications are not
calculated to decrease the rate OF tax
Ey getting others to come here and
share CUR burdens with US. What our
towns need, according to my own
judgment, is diversity OF business In
Uerests, the enlargement of the plants
now in existence, and increased num-
Der as to the population of our towns,
which means an increase in the value
of our property and the decrease of
our tax rate. l further most respect
fully submit that every indy idual in
the town cannot realize what his in
tiuence is for or against the upbu1ld-
ing Of the town, until he makes an
effort, very earnest effort, to make
his own ideas felt not only in the COM
munity itself, but also outside Of the
community in behalf Of our growth
and prosperity.
l trust you will pardon me for re-
ferring to the condition of Salem so
far as taxes are concerned, because L
believe the article communicated in
last Saturdays paper should have had
both sides Of the line represented.
Your paper represents not only the
interests of Winston but also those
of Salem and as such the interests OF
the entire community, and while the
tax rate Of Winston may at the pres
ent time seem large, that Of Salem
would propOrtionately seem small.
For some years past our city rate has
been 75 cents on the hundred dollars,
which IS cents includes the interest
upon our bonded debt, free schooling
at our free school which is as good, or
probably the best in the State, and
all facilities so far as water and electric
lights and street cars are concerned.
In addition to the running eXpen-
ses Of the city which gives to our peo-
pie these advantages, we have been
enabled during the past few years to
make annual payments upon our float
ing debt which is now only 1880.
We have promptly met the interest
upon our bonded debtofS50, ,0O0and have
each year added one block Of Belgian
block paving to our streets. Persons
who are attracted in this direction
because of our wonderfully fine cli
mate and our advantages as COM
mercial centre, and because of our
fine back country, can find that in
one or the other communities there is
ample opportunity to find home
without eXOrbitant taxes, and that
cordial welcome will be extended to
all to come into this community and
aid in upbuilding our Twin Cities.
The growth of Salem adds to the
prosperity of Winston which is and
has been recognized as commercial
centre Of our section, and it occurs to
the writer, that the most important
thing for the citizens of both towns,
and this section OF the country to do,
is to take bold stand for the upbuild-
ing Of our towns, and the enlargement
Of our Industries.
To illustrate more fully the ease
and accuracy with which our accounts
are kept, l send you herewith the
statement for the month of January,
the Board of Commissioners. Each
voucher as paid is entered under it's
appropriate head, and each amount
received shows from what source it
comes, so that at the end of any
month or year the Finance Commit
tee or Board can easily check every
cent received and paid out. The for m
is so simple that we submit 1t, not in
a spirit Of criticism of any one else,
but rather that it may aid some one
else in simplifying their accounts and
statements. Respectfully,
FL. e. FRIES.