The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-12-25

what men may not undertake with
safety in every community!
Raise it, and Injuries must be
Topped off, conVeniences curtalled, de-
sires denied, effort crippled, enter
prise atrangled. =,
Lower it, and communities, like
Phoenix from her a1hes, rise and double
their population in deca lie, and yet, |
forsoo,h, community that oeslres TO |
test the opinion of its citizens az TO
their willingness to increase the taclil-
ties of import and export must %
stopped by the voice Of a CONSERVATIVE
constructor of the law!
1t becomes business men to band to-
gether, to sink personal differences
and prejudices, and to take personal
risks, in order to forward the material
interest of the community.
Have lawyers no duties but to donot1
What harm can come Of communl-
tv taxing itself to multiply it's trans
portation facilities? Whose business
! is it but their own if they be willing
to tax themselves? Why should they
not have as much right to do that as
for any ether public benefit! Have
we not seen, in the recent elections,
when communities desired to impose
upon themselves burdens greater tnan
the constitution allowed, a special vote
taken on the subject of amending the
constitution so that they might have
the privilege of doing what their own
citizens wished TO do!
j If, as my friend estimates, this COM
& munity can only issoe S35, 900 OF ad-
tditional bonds, will not their invest
. meut in a competitive railroad be
more productive than an investment IN
i. an electric or water plant? Will not
such an investment bring about an in;
| crease of taxable values that would
= later assure a basis for these otneI
} public works!
If he is willing TO furthrr an cleo
trio plant, l know citizen who VII
D advance 1.S the cost and agree to &c
D so without interest for five years.)
yhe freights now paid by the toWI
T will approximate, if not surpaSs, S2Vl
per day, or 100000 per annum; a bare
saving OF ten per cent, by reason o1
competition, would save S6,OOO per
t annum. The interest at 5 per cent OF
S50,OOO of bonds would be S2,5O0. 4
saving of 25 cents in freight per bali
cotton, or an export of 10000 bale
e cotton, or an aggregate export an'
/ import Of that amounl would pa.
n the interest charge.
It is not necessary to enlarge on thl
3 line The town should require, be
fore paying over the bonds, that com
! petition be assured. This done, to d
q full extent as the nature of mans at
fairs will permit, the value Of the in
yestment, (tor heaven knows the towl
:, can get stock if it wants iO, or bonus
I (call it what you may), is az self eVl
n dent as Euclid's axioms.
1t is not needfal to speak Of the en-
l hsncement of the value of properly
e should a competitive railroad be Sc
q cured; Or of the stimulating efec' o.
h the activities aud spirits of our people
nor of other phases along this line.
Q | come to the finale: We believe th
o present town council will order al
j. election but if not, we will elect ONT
e that will. If the courts decide tina
4 there is no law to vote bonds for thi
purpose We will 60 to work to hav
L. the constitution amended. and not IN
\ til we are defeated in this effort wi
we be content TO continue to shrin
: from taxable value of S600,0OO i
1884 to q taxable value of $500,eO
4 (according to my friendl in 1900.
We prefer 10 burst ID D effort to es
: l,,,,,5 o3 n -,ro,o fhan>to M an