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Letter to Editor
April 23, 1887
The Baltimore County Union
Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland
What is this article about?
Farmer from Eklo, 6th District, urges cutting court salaries and terms, and lower taxes to relieve taxpayers; contrasts 20-year-old low prices with current highs, laments farm improvements without profit, and defies political manipulation. Signed Rock Bottom.
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Eklo, 6th District.-Sitting back in the
chimney, cutting potatoes on a recent cold, rainy
day my meditations reverted from active outdoor
labors on my farm, the source of my scanty income, to the wild rush for office by the politicians
and by the way my tax money is, shall I say
squandered, in comparison to the way my private
expenses are contracted and paid. There are two
ways by which we taxpayers may find relief, viz.
commencing at the Judges of the County Court,
cut down the salaries of everybody in and about
the Court House and give us shorter terms of court
and longer hours of clerical service. This will reduce the number of office-seekers and clamor for
jury service. We might except County Commissioners in this sweeping reduction. If any one
feels aggrieved at this estimate of their service let
them resign and seek a higher plane where there
is always room.
Allow me to quote prices of twenty years ago
when I settled here. I came in the spring and
bought poor land with but a few buildings at $50
an acre cash. I had nothing to eat and often attended Pennsylvania sales to get a square dinner.
Flour cost me $15 a barrel, corn $1.08 a bushel,
oats 75 cents, potatoes $2, bacon 18 to 25 cents,
hay $20 for wild grass, masons charged $2.50 and
day laborers $1. Now compare these prices and
what we farmers get for the same produce, and the
improvements in buildings, fertilizers and fences
which have run my land up to $100 an acre, and
people would think I was crazy to ask $50 an acre
now, and the only way I can steer out of this dilemma is three meals a day, in gratitude that my
wornout teeth and wider throat have not impaired
my digestion.
Let us have lower taxes is the second way to
help us along. In the distribution of offices what
"mortal fools we be" must be the estimate the
lower districts put upon us to think any one would
aspire for any of the best offices from the 6th district. We don't intend to be sold out or put in
anybody's vest pocket and say "I vote the 6th
district" if we can help it.
Rock Bottom.
chimney, cutting potatoes on a recent cold, rainy
day my meditations reverted from active outdoor
labors on my farm, the source of my scanty income, to the wild rush for office by the politicians
and by the way my tax money is, shall I say
squandered, in comparison to the way my private
expenses are contracted and paid. There are two
ways by which we taxpayers may find relief, viz.
commencing at the Judges of the County Court,
cut down the salaries of everybody in and about
the Court House and give us shorter terms of court
and longer hours of clerical service. This will reduce the number of office-seekers and clamor for
jury service. We might except County Commissioners in this sweeping reduction. If any one
feels aggrieved at this estimate of their service let
them resign and seek a higher plane where there
is always room.
Allow me to quote prices of twenty years ago
when I settled here. I came in the spring and
bought poor land with but a few buildings at $50
an acre cash. I had nothing to eat and often attended Pennsylvania sales to get a square dinner.
Flour cost me $15 a barrel, corn $1.08 a bushel,
oats 75 cents, potatoes $2, bacon 18 to 25 cents,
hay $20 for wild grass, masons charged $2.50 and
day laborers $1. Now compare these prices and
what we farmers get for the same produce, and the
improvements in buildings, fertilizers and fences
which have run my land up to $100 an acre, and
people would think I was crazy to ask $50 an acre
now, and the only way I can steer out of this dilemma is three meals a day, in gratitude that my
wornout teeth and wider throat have not impaired
my digestion.
Let us have lower taxes is the second way to
help us along. In the distribution of offices what
"mortal fools we be" must be the estimate the
lower districts put upon us to think any one would
aspire for any of the best offices from the 6th district. We don't intend to be sold out or put in
anybody's vest pocket and say "I vote the 6th
district" if we can help it.
Rock Bottom.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Social Critique
What themes does it cover?
Taxation
Agriculture
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Tax Relief
Court Salaries
Farm Prices
Office Seekers
6th District
Politicians
Government Spending
What entities or persons were involved?
Rock Bottom
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Rock Bottom
Main Argument
taxpayers can find relief by cutting salaries of court officials, shortening court terms, and lowering taxes overall; the writer contrasts low prices from 20 years ago with current high costs and resists political aspirations from the 6th district.
Notable Details
Quotes Prices From Twenty Years Ago: Flour $15/Barrel, Corn $1.08/Bushel, Oats 75 Cents, Potatoes $2, Bacon 18 25 Cents, Hay $20
Personal Anecdote Of Settling On Poor Land At $50/Acre
Phrase 'Mortal Fools We Be'
Land Now Valued At $100/Acre