The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-12
HOUSTON, MONDAY, MAY t2, 1907.
CITY TAXES AND FACTORIES.

The Constitution OF Atlanta is calling at
tentlUn TO the low rate OF taxation In that
CITY as al inducemcnt to the establishment
OF manufactures within her limits. IN the
course OF its article the Constitution says;
Our tax rate Is lower than that OF Sa-
vannah, Norfolk, Charleston Dallas uous-
ton, New Orleans, Richmond Louisville or
any other important city Of tue South
we have one great advantage over Attain
ta, namely, our cheap water transportation
for the distribution Of manufactured prol-
ucts ana FOR the import ton of such raw
material, not obtannble from the interior
as may be needed IN manufacturing, but
thut is no reason why we should not have
as low a tax rate as she has. As far as
We can see there Is no good reason why OUT
tax rate should not be reduced very copsid-
erably We have no Important work on
hand now that requires Il large annual out
lay. We have hullth extensive water
supply plant aad put IN system OF house
drainage without Increasing the pubhc
debt. and the burden OF maintaining sea
quarantine there has been removed. At the
same time there has been marked ~.
crease Ia the total valuation of property
for taxation II would seem therefore that
the time has come fer cutting down the
rate Of taxation.
II Is Of the highest Importance that W.
should have an Increase of small indus.
ties. II our city IL 60 grow We must have
the means Oy which an increase Of p"ruln-
ton can be supported. It is true of COURSE
that our commerce Is steadily Increasing,
but 1t affords hut little additional employ
mcnt for white pcnple lhr negroes have
practically monopoly of the work thut
Is done on the WhNvves
We need moro fields Of employment for
white people md one ot the best induce
ments to now industries Is low rate of
taxation.
This is matter Tint ought to have the
careful attention not only NJ tho city c'W
Gil hut also W every ritzou who Is inter
csted In the uphuildlug of the clty.-Savan
nah iGn1 News.
Her, Is food for reflection for Houston
In tho first place, u is to be observed that
the municipal tax rate Is factor In cs
uablishing factories. other things being
equal, investment will seek the location
where the burden Of government IS light
est; In view Of Houston's siGh, rate. the
advantages Of location Ufdst have appealed
powerfultS to the promoters of the factoric'
that are now thriving IN this city And
indeed that is true IIoustons facilities
foi railroad distribution and her nearnesi
70 the sources OF raw materIa, have done
much, ma The opening oi Buffalo Bayou
with It's ocean freight rates should do vast
~ more. But we arc not enjoying the full
rewards Of our advantage aud will not Ell
Soy them until we reduce the tax rate It
the average OF other cities similarly sit
uGtcd what Houston has lost OH this ac
count will never be known. but # is cas-!
To understand how nm enterprise iu con
t,mrlata ON would have taken flight az GU
nj h taxes and gone to another city, Mu
vi !pH waste, therefore, 81 not the ouu
tuhs 90 Doe charged tu maldmtnlstratlon
It 10 O bnulicnp TO progress az well as
hrld,u 90 citizens
E,t Houston bas entered upon new eru
III. urc4cni city aduinlstrat Ign pn,l moi