The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-03-07
THE NEW DEPOT QUESTION.


of the municipality in view. and beinl
themselves taxpayers may be trustee
not to throw away the city's funds
1t is our opinion that the L.. 81 N
Railroad will deal justly with us il
this matter. ana the attempt of Ger
tain of our contemporaries to antag
onize the tax payers against the propO'
sitiOns made by the railroad should
not be needed. but each calmly inves-
tigate for himself the question pro and
con. Columbia Journal
Lets analyze the above. 1.-THE efforts
of our Board of Mayor and Aldermen
to secure for Columbia a new railroad
depot, are TO be commended. - That
is true.
"They have the best interests of the
municipality in view, and being them.
selves taxpayers, may be trusted not
to throw away the city's funds - But
they have thrown away some of them.
Their reduction of the liquor license
was gift from the city treasury to
the saloon keepers; and it shows that
their ideas of economy may run toward
the classes at the expense of the masses.
Being taxpayers themselves. " How
much taxes do they payS We venture
that the individuals composing the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen all COM
bined do pot pay 5000 in taxes an
nually. The Journal is close and con-
venient to the tax books Since they
have raised the point they may further
investigate it.
1T is our opinion that the L. & N.
Railroad will deal justly with us in
this matter. - Any "opinion" to
have influence or weight, must be
founded on fact. Upon what fact can
the opinion be founded that the 81.
q N. Railroad will deal justly with us
in this matter2' Are their rates just
Is their service just? Is their present |
depot shack just? Are their demands
to build new one just2 We should !
like for the Journal, if it can, to give
us some fact in the history of the L.
q N. Railroad Co., upon which it
predicates the opinion that the
aforesaid railroad will deal justly by
us. Besides, why should we throw
upon the mercy and justice
of the Railroad Co. :? Why not defend
and protect our own rights? Upon
what meat doth this mighty corpora
ton feed, that it should come into
Columbia and issue it's mandates,
and call for its tribute. and the people
TALL down and cry deal justly with
ns'' Why not say to them: "Come
down off your perch, and build
depot in conformity with the law, or
we will arrest and fine you every day
n the week." Why not deal justly
with ourselvesr
"The attempt to antagonize the tax
payers against the proposition made by
he railroad should not be needed, but ,
ZACH calmly investigate for himself the =
question pro and con. There is moth
ng the Herald is more willing to than e.,
calm investigation, " But how can
he tax payers investigate a contract +
T proposition they cannot see, and 9
What opportunity have they had to see +
nd investigate this one? If the Jour r.
al is the champion of this PROPOSE ton, 7
yill it please publish its proposition
nd explain itr o
We are strongly inclined to the belief il
nat the Journal itself has not been a
to read the contract, and
oes not know what it is. 1t has
oubtless been told" to the Journal
was also told" to the Herald. And -
hen the Herald reporter asked con- =,
erning the incidental damage to con =,
guous property, he was requested not "
} touch upon that point The strong
oints of the proposition are told with II
nphasis the Objectionable ones var O.,
lshed with opinions and explanations &c
nd excuses. The Journal speaks of m
as proposition made by the rail ~,
'ad." We understand it to be prop II
ition from the Board to the Railroad. n
he Journal should calmly investigate III
at -,
After such calm investigation as we
I'VE been able to make, we believe it O
a cut and dried proposition made by P]
o Board at the request or til
lplled- of the Railroad. The matter -
as limited at ut Board meeting y
'out month ago, and the Mayor
marked that it was not time to dis
IS that yet, that eff orts were being I
ade in that direction. Then was the
ne when the people should have been
ked to 'calmly investigate. But h:
ose who had the deal in charge, II
ought they were not to be trusted.
en- now il they were given time and
portunity they would like to calmly
vestigate, " but even now they are
MED that. right and privilege They ar
, not to be taken into full confidence
til the tax collector calls, then they !