Year: 1879

n

 GAIN.

 Last Thursday, the bill known as the Railroad Tax Bill-the main fea- ture of which is to relieve all capital invested in railroads m this state from taxation for . term of ten years. to the extent of taxing only the net earnings of the roads-came up again in tEe House under motion to reconsider, and was passed in that body by the handsome vote of 55 to 3l.

 We took our stand on this ques- ton and expressed our opinion of it last week, and we are glad to see that our view of the matter has met the endorsement of large majorityj5 of our house of representatives; and the satisfaction we experience is all the greater, because among the majority who voted for the measure are most of the progressive, wide a. wake, intelligent and we'll informed members of the House.

 It is vote of which they need not be ashamed. It is vote for prog rcss and rapid development in our State. It is a vote which attests the truth and sincerity Of the utterances of the State press wherein we have told the outside world that Eve want more capital and more immigrants in our State, and that we will welcome all who may come.

 There is nothing to lose in this policy, but everything to gain. We can lose nothing, because if no capi- tai comes under this invitation, we are at least no worse of. If new capital DOES come, we gain very great deal. We gain all that thrift and prosperity which soon comes to new countries when possessing great merits when penetrated by railroads. We gain new citizens, new muscle and new wealth. We gain prestage and influence as state and people. We gain the investment of millions o: dollars in our state, in addition to the capital put in the road. We gain new and influential friends, who, having large capital invested here feel interestedin doing all tbeycan to advance the State in the good opinion of the outside world, and who will work to inaugurate prosperous era in Arkansas.

 But we said we lose nothing. We do lose something. We lose the stigma which has attached to our State for long years, of being a back woods retreat for the bear and the wild cat. We lose the name of be. ing people of whom long tangle- haired backwoodsman, with an Ar kahsaw, toothpick in his boot leg and a brace of navy sixes in his belt, has been taken as a representative man. We lose the refugees from justice who have focked to Arkansas from the older States, and who will soon have to skin out from here and give way to better citizens. We lose the privilige of still trudging along in the old ruts and letting our youth grow up in ignorance and illiteracy, for where railroads go, there follows civilization, better school facilities, better systems of farming, stock raising, &c., &c. We lose the glori- ous and inestimable privilige of be ing mere drones, and we have to put our muscle and our brain power to work to keep up with the onward march of events.

 All hail the day when every one of rich counties may have an outlet by rail, and when the immi grant from the north, the south, the east or the west may be able to take the cars and land himself. his family and his goods in any county of our State, without delay, let or hindrance for want ot transportation. LEES ATTACK UpNN SENA-