The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-11-25
work for the LegisIature--A Re-VnIua
ton Of lands

work for the LeEtAlatuFe.-A Re-VRIun
ton Of Lands.
The Legislature of this state, to meet
in a little over fifty d.,ys will find several
gravely important subjects demanding
attention. The question of determining
the political status of returned rebels.
will come up in the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution. The perma-
nent location of the State Capital will
no doubt come up atan early day of the
session and be pressed with energy and
persistence. Provision should be made
for State Agricultural College, en-
dowed by Congress with the land scrip
for which Governor Foreman is now re-
ceiving proposals. There is great need
of adequate legislation to induce an in
fusion of population and capital into
the State. An effective system of pub
lie Works ought to be devised and put
into immediate operation. And it may
be that a portion of the Code will be re-
ported for consideration at the Approach
ing session.
Important as these subjects, are, there
is one other, which, from the magnitude
of the interest directly involved, and
no less of those intimately connected
with and dependent upon it, is par
amount. This is 8 speedy re-valuation
of the landed property OF the State
The law of Virginia governs re-vnlua-
tons in this State. Under former
law Of the Old State they were made
90, lv,N -,
the Legislature provided for re-valua-
ton which took place in that year, Cthe
last TINT was made;) and since that
time it has been competent for the
Legislature, to order a new valuation mt
any time deemed expedient. The sub
ject was brought before the Legislature
last winter, but, owing to the then anom-
alous condition of the county, and to
what were supposed to be inflated and
purely fictitious values, action was
postponed.
Now the war is over and business has
resumed its accustomed channels. But
the standard of values so much raised
during the war does not recede. It
seems likely to be maintained for many
years, if not permanently; and it there
fore becomes necessary, with due re-
gard to common maxims of business,
for the State to do as all individuals are
doing, adjust its financial concerns to
this new financial era. The value OF
real estate everywhere has been raised
out of proportion to other values, be-
cause it offered the only absolutely safe
investment for superabundant paper,
which many were afraid to hold; but
in West Virginia it far exceeds that
common TO the other States. The war
which, impoverished with one hand
built up with the other. The excision
from Old Virginia and erection into a
separate State, with liberal and inviting
laws and the adjustment of that insti-
tuition which hud hitherto repealed
everything calculated to introduce and
develop wealth, added immense and
immediate value to our naturally rich
domain. But the worth OF lands in n
large scope OF territory along and ada
cent to the Ohio river, hitherto barren
and uninviting, has been increased in
an extraordinary degree within the
Petroleum Oil, and other minerals, in
almost fabulous quantities. This de-
velopment, which was deemed for a
time temporary, has become a perma-
nent interest, and the values created by
il appear likely, in tho main, to be as
well maintained ms any others. The
spirit of enterprise and of speculation
awakened by these discoveries has at
tracted attention to the mineral wealth
of the State generally, and resulted in n
great advance in the value of wild
lands in its remotest counties.
Meanwhile all the personal property
in the State has been assessed from year
to year ut its full actual value Mt the
time of assessment. 1t is only neces-
sary to state this to show that person.
atty has paid vastly heavier tax "a
UdLOrem than realty. Tho Constitution
of theState declares ''thaC taxation shall
be equal and uniform throughout the
State, and all property both real and
personal, shall be taxed in proportion
to its value to be ascertained as directed
by law" This provision of the Con-
N'NatNatASAA AANNN' ~ ~ NtAAAAtNA llANu IIiS-
tice. Our system contemplates that
thcre are to be no favored classes or pei
interests as there always were in old
Virginia. We think it is capable OF
demonstration that under the existing
arrangement there is not only gross
inequality, greater even than the ex-
cmption of young negro slaves, OF
which we used so justly to complain
hut that the most vital interests of the
State suffer repression in consequence.
We have been at some pains to ex-
anime the present valuations of lands
throughout the State, unchanged AS
they have been for ten years, and viii
present some figures on.NIonday which
may somewhat nstOnish our calcula-
tors, AS we confess they have not Il little
surprised ourselves.
Senator Van Wrinkle on the Test Oath
and Constitutional AmcndmcnL.
Senator Van Wrinkle has recently
embraced m opportunity afforded him
by the invitation of a Committee of
parI<ersbur,s ventleunAy, 10 addrass tbs.