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Show CIVIC DUTY AT A FINANCIAL LOSS? It is constantly being proven that altruism has little place in the business world. It is continuously shown by the struggle small towns are forced to make in order to maintain their economic life. A question of taxation was brought up this week at the meeting presided over by the good-will ambassadors of the Union Pacific. It was mentioned that railroad taxation is heavy, as these corporations are assessed for the building build-ing of state and county roads, as wiell as for schools and public improvements-How improvements-How many of the trucksters, who enjoy our road system sys-tem and who peddle fruit and garden produce at our doors, have helped to any extent in paying for Utah's highway system ? It is a queer fact that much of the money taken from the revenues of railways is spent to further the progress pro-gress of their most bitter competition, and bus and truck lines. As the railway prospers, more men are employed and consequently the town of Milford advances commercially and in every other way. Now, to come from the large railroad corporations to the small-town shopkeeper. We can ask the same questions. How many transients who drop into Milford, sell you goods and get your money, pay for the education of your children ? How many feet of our street pavement has been paid for by them? It is said that their prices are lower. In the long run, you are paying more for merchandise by buying from out of town people who invest nothing in bur town, streets or schools. And more than likely, you buy unsatisfactory goods. And after all, what if their prices are lower? Suppose you have saved a cent or two at the time ! You've lost it in the long run. Looking at the nickle, the dollar in the future has been lost sight of, and with it, a fair measure of your neighbor's good will. Towns are built for but one general purpose- In the neighborly collection of homes, there results a measure of mutual interdependence and with it, the sharing of mutual prosperity. Communities have to be seemingly selfish and turn the cold shoulder to illegitimate competition if they are to preserve pre-serve the benefits for which they were founded. Reams have been written on this subject but a vast percentage of people yet fail to realize that home folks should be given the 'break,' even at a seeming financial loss. |