The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-22
THE INDIANAPOLIS SOUTHERN.
Objections to Voting a One Per Cent.
Subsidy to the Company.
o the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The time has arrived in the development
of the Indianapolis Southern Railroad
project when the people of this city have
been taken into the confidence of its man
ayers and the method of financing the
scheme laid bare. Center township is to
be called upon to vote a subsidy of 1 per
cent. upon the taxable property in the
township which amounts to 1SO.9S1, 74o. to
aid in the construction of the road. This
1 per cent. levy, If voted, would yield the
neat little sum of 81, 800, 3l7Aa sum sufficient
of itself to build, at a cost of $4,000 per
mile, 321s miles of railroad. 1t is proposed
to turn over to the city of Indianapolis
an amount of stock in the railroad equal
to the subsidy voted out of the pockets
of the taxpayers. Just why the stock
should no go to the men who are TO pay
the subsidy when voted. in proportion to
the contribution of each, instead of to the
city of Indianapolis. is left open for con-
lecture. AS the majority OF those who
will have the right to vote for or against
the granting of the subsidy are not tax
payers, the proposition to donate to the
city 81, 309, 317 of stock in the railroad will
no doubt prove a very attractive PROPOSE
ton. Just why ali of the electric railways
recently built connecting indianapolis with
other points in the State, and those in con-
temptation, have not asked TO have sub
sides voted to them by Center township
is somewhat incomprehensible in the light
of the proposal with respect TO the Indian
apolis Southern. If one of these enter
prises is entitled to financial aid, why not
all? If this subsidy should be voted
thousands of small home-owners would
have to pay an additional tax of about so
al wit
sewer assessments and increased city tax
that must be levied to meet the deficiencies
of the Taggart administration. as the rail-
road subsidy would call for $40 upon each
81 900 of taxable property. In the name Of
all the gods at once! are not the people
OF Indianapolis now sufficiently burdened
with taxation and public assessments that
amount TO the same thing!
Indianapolis can do nothing calculated TO
retard her growth more than to add to the
burdens of taxation, which in the end
operates against the prosperity of all her
citizens. The Journal in an able editorial
wisely commented on this branch of the
subject yesterday. AS a sample of what
this subsidy would cost our heavy tax
payers, the names of a few, with the SUBJ
sidy tax figured out. are given p. F. Clay
pool, s666s; Capt. w. Z. English, $780,
Maria III. Ayres, SASS; E. c. Atkins & Co,
1885; Stevenson Building Company, $5.061
]. A. Lemcke. $1,000: S. ]. Fletcher, $3.50
Fletcher National Bank, 5000: Indiana
National Bank, $500; II. A. Morris, 1906
Henry Schnull, S, 494; V. L. Malott, s., 300
j. f. Roberts, s., 467.
The writer has no objection to the build
ing of the Indianapolis Southern Railroad
only to the proposed method of financing
Ii. If the merits of this proposed railroad
are not sufficient to invite capital to il as
a place of safe investment, at least far
as Indianapolis and Center township are
concerned. it should be allowed to rest
where IL is. If necessary, and ii certainly
looks like it will become necessary. the
taxpayers of this locality should organize
to fight this attempt to levy this tax.
j. III. CLAYPOOL.
INDIANAPOLIS Nov. q.