The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-09-26
AS TO THE NEW RAILROAD,


county some important facts in regard
70 the effect of railroads generally both
upon the Z and upon tho growth OF
acommnnity.
The important statements following
have been taken from the records in the
County Court House in HendersOpville'
and can be verified by any citizen who
so desires.
In the year 1875, the Board Of County
Commissioners levied, for county pur-
poses, . tax of 50 cents on the hundred
dollars.
The total assessed valuation that year
was $0sT, $500.
In 1907, the tax recently levied for
county purposes was Is cents on the
hundred dollars.
This In an actual decrease OF IL cents.
The assessed valuation of tho county
has risen TO %, GA. 677.OO.
This is nm increase of $751;, O56.O {.
Or an increase of 262
per cent.
Now, an increase In assessment means
IN actual increase in valuation. Every
one knows that ordinary land is now
bringing on an average from 3 to 5 times
NJ much as it did in 1875.
We have made the statement that this
bettered condition lie largely due to rail-
roads, indeed we would put it even
stronger by saying that it il almost er-
tireIy due TO the building of railroads
into Henderson county. Try and ina
gIne what this county would be today
without railroad facilities.
It was in 1876 that the county made
Its first levy to meet the interest on rail-
road bonds to the Asheville and Spar
tanburg railroad. Not until 1879 was
the railroad completed to Henderson
Vile. The event was celebrated On the
4th Of July of that year when Gov. Fer
rel, OF North Carolina, and Attorney
General Yoaman, of South Carolina were
the orators.
It was . day of great rejoicing and long
to be remembered. More than that, that
day marked the beginning of a greater
Henderson county.
In 1886 the railroad was extended to
Asheville.
The Hendersonville & Brevard r. r.
was conceived and projected by Hender-
sonvilie people and to aid in this move
ment HendersonVille Township voted
10000. It was completed in 1896.
Thus was added a third spoke to the
railroad wheel" of u city. Who can
estimate the value this line has been in
developing Hendersonville and of Hen
deTSon county?
In other words, Notwithstanding the
interest on the above county bonds, like
wise the interest on the bonds for our
new court house ian edifce which should
be the pride of every citizen of Hander-
son county, the taxes levied for county
purposes have actually decreased ard the
assessed valuation has Increased by over
$4,000. 10000.
Nor is this all, there are in the county
some half dozen fine steel bridges which
were not in existance in 1876. Not TO
mention many other county improve
ments.
But are We going to stop here? With
80 miles of railroad in the county we are
now actually offered, practically for the
taking, 80 miles probably 49, more rail-
road.
This railroad, however, is guaranteed
by q binding contract to be a competing
railroad. This contract stipulates that
If 1t failsto compete with present rail-
roads the bonds which-it asks the county
to vote shall become forfeited, and it
further provides that damages to the
amount Of ESQ, 900 shall be awarded to
the local stockholders. This certainly
Seems fair.
But to show the further evidence Of
fairness on the part of the capitalists
back of his enterprise, they do not ask
MS TO issue the CSC, 900 until the railroad
10 actually bnilt, equipped and tina,
passenger and freight trains shall be
operating oneregular schedule, an pub.