The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1912-05-03
BROU6SARD, LA.
Taxpayer on the Railroad Tax.

Taxpayer on the Railroad a
Editor Advertiser:
In your paper issued Friday. April
10, there appeared an article an
nouncing to the people of Lafayette
that they now have submitted to
them a proposition to vote a three
mill tax for ten years in aid of the
Lafayette, New iberia and North
western Railroad Co., said tax to
amount to a total of $4,000 and pay.
able in ten years, stating that the
people individually and collectively
would benefit enough to justify the
expenditure on their part. In arriv-
ing at the conclusion the writer OF
the article asks the people to con
slider:
First, that there is a difference in
freight rates to and from competi-
tive points, that is places where two
sor more different railroads pass. La.
afayette at present has only m rail
road system: with the New Iberia,
Lafayette & Northern she will have
two, for it will connect us with
lines of the Frisco and Rock
island systems. This means a reduc-
sfiOn in freight rates and a saving to
every person in Lafayette both on
his purchases and what he sells for
shipment
II the writer of that article had
not made such a broad statement as
that regarding freight rates the bal.
-ance of his statement might have
been given some credence.
The town of Crowley has got the
Frisco system and their freight rates
are not any cheaper than they were
before the Frisco system built into
the town.
The town of Rayne has got her
second railroad, being a brarca OF
the Texas and Pacific system and
freight rates to the town Rayne are
In many instances higher than they
were before sh4 got her second rail-
road, The town Of Eunice has got
the Southern Pacific, the Rock Is
land, the Frisco and the Texas Pa
cific railroads and the freight rates
ARE no cheaper into Eunice than
they were when only the Southern
Pacific line went into Eunice. The
town Of Opelousas has got the South
.ern Pacific, the Frisco and the Texas
Pacific and freight rates into the
town are no cheaper than they were
when Opelousas had only the South
ern Pacific system. The town of
New Iberia has got the Southern Pa
<iic, the New iberia and Northern
Railroad and the New iberia and ST.
Mary and Eastern road under con-
struction and New iberia has no
cheaper freight rates that she had be-
fore the new roads built into her
town.
The towns mentioned above are To-
Gated near Lafayette If any tax
payer desires to verify the above
statement, let him drop a letter to
some merchant friend in any of the
towns mentioned and ask him if
freight rates are any cheaper than
before the town had but one railroad.
The chances are the reply win be
that in many instances the freight
rates are higher.
Do the taxpayers Of Lafayette e a
Ike that the crowd that will con-
struct the new railroad will be COM
posed OF one set of men and the
crowd that will operate the railroad
will be composed OF another set Of
men? And is it reasonable to sup
nose that the new railroad IL going
- be built for the purpose Of cut
ring freight rates! And IL It not
to suppose that after the
rad \ built the people who operate
L WI desire to earn - much with
~ railroad a. u possible? Hence
> II not reasonable to suppose that
hey are going to clamor to get their
GAare q the business at the freight
~ already n vogue?
2sAnoAn1r thfn9. DO the peop1e Who