469 



Perhaps there is nothing, in which this is more clearly delineated 

 than in the annual tax sales, one of which, within the last few days, has 

 been attended in this City. In the Enquirer, whose columns contain 

 the list of lands for sale, you may count, for the year 1852, one thou- 

 sand and forty-two descriptions, with opposite of each, a charge of 

 seventy cents. It will not vary far from this ; I only counted one col- 

 umn as the data. Granting this to be correct ; the sum total of charges 

 on the one thousand and forty-two descriptions, is $728.70. This is in- 

 dependent of the interest, which, I presume, will amount to thirty-three 

 per cent more than the charges. I only took one township and found 

 this to be the result. Calling this an average and multiply it by twen- 

 ij, the nuinber of years since the first tax wjis levied in the County, and 

 it will amount to $14,574. This sum, at ten per cent compound inte- 

 rest in twenty years, would amount to $77,339. This, let it be distinct- 

 ly understood, will be the sum, when the amount of each year has been 

 on interest twenty years; that is, calling this year the same as twenty 

 years hence, equal to the one twenty years past. We have then before 

 us, on the simple item of tax sales, in the little County of Kent, the sum 

 of $77,339, as the result of the credit system or not paying when it is 

 due, in the short period of twenty years. This $77,339, would be 

 more than three times our quota a-^signed for the Ottawa and Oakland 

 Railroad. At $1,000 per mile it would build a fraction over 77 miles 

 of plank road. This distance, would alleast,bringusoutinto the suburbs 

 of creation, or as our neighbors would have it, civilization — or it would 

 pay at $20 per month, for 322 years and three months labor, in culti- 

 vating the soil. At $10 per acre, it would clear and fence 7,733 acres 

 of land. At 20 cents per tree, it would set our 386,695 trees ; this num- 

 ber of fruit and oniamental shade trees, added to the present number 

 scattered through our County, would write the stamp of thrift in capi- 

 tals of gold upon every comer of our streets or wherever the eye glanced. 



This $77,339, it should be remembered, after the expiration of 20 

 years, will be the annual amount, without adding the yearly interest. ' 

 Add this, and centuries will scarce be numbered before the sum, at com- 

 pound interest, would purchase the woi'ld. 



But some may say, this money has gone into the public treasury 

 and been paid out for the support of public officers, and thus lightened 

 o ur tax. We grant this, but it has only paid the charges of its own 



