Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-10-10
The Farmers, the Demegogues and
the Reassessment.
From the wheeling Register.

Icrom the w heellng RegistersI
John Smith, John Jones and John Brown
own farms in different parts of certain
county of West Virginia.
Under the assessment act of 1878. John
Smiths farm was valued at $40 per acre
John Jones farm was valued at S25 per acre.
and John Browns farm at Si00 per acre.
The next year after this valuation was made
. railroad was projected along side of John
smiths farm. The farm was underlail with
coal and part of it covered with valuable
timber: In the course of few months the
railroad was built, the coal mines omen and
his valuable timber brought into demand.
His land, although hitherto unsalable, and
valued at only $40 per acre, was rapidly bring,
ing John Smith q fortune. He refused of.
fers of S20e per acre for-it.
John Jones' farm was part of productive
valley which, IN consequence of the rapid
settlement OF the country around him, was
constantly appreciating in value. Shortly
alter the resssessment an enterprising Penn
sylyapla farmer OF large wealth came over in
to West Virginia aud recognising the, val.
uebie quality of John Jones' land, offered
him good round price for it, which Jones
accepted the Pennsylvania farmer moved
upon it, erected magnificent dwelling house
and barn, cleaned up and fertilized t6efaru.
and appreciated its market vaule as we'll as
its producsiveness quite 25 per cent within
year after he took possession SO that he
refused $50 per acre for land which two years
before was assessed at S25 per acre.
John Browns farm was located in another
part OF the county, which had been regarded
as the most valuable of ALL the lands in that
section, but the building of the railroad
through the opposite border had drawn away
the population, discouraged the hope of
rnnH 4f..
Brown lived. the lands deprecated aud John
Browns farm, especially. was neglected and
grew up with weeds, and its owner leased IL
to neighbor and moved to the railroad.
Thus in two years after the assessment of
1878 the value of John Smiths farm was
enhanced from SO per acre to $500 per acre
John Jones farm double in value, and John
Browns ran down from 500 to n market
value af about $40.
Nevertheless, these thrcc farmers contin>
ucd from about tho year 1875 to 1882, to paw
tax upon their respective farms according to
the valuation made in 1873. John Smith
was paying upon valuation of $40 Dor acre
for lands that were worth $500; John Jones
was paying upon valuation of S25, upon
lands that were worth $50; aud poor John
Brown was compelled to pay upon a valuation
and taxas.
Now, the Legislature passed reassessment
act in 1882, and tho assessor readiusts the
values of these farms, reducing j ohm Browns
and increasingthe othcr two in proper pro.
portion, so that the three ownors pay only
their fair share of taxes. and yet the State
receives favorable increase of revenue from
the three.
Nevertheless, the demagoguss raise howl
because the Legislature has readius.cd tho
value of these farms, and ono organ, tho
Wheeling Inte1ligencer, presumes on tho
gullibility Of its readers to such an extent as
to allege that this adjustment of values
'mean an addition of 33 per cent. to every
farmers taxes"-that is, John Smith. John
Brown and John Jones and eUery other far,
mer-must pay 33 per cent more because
these values have been equalizcd than If the
valuation had remained as in 1873, and far
mers whose lands had deprecated had con-
tinued to bear the brunt of the tax, and those
whose lands had enhanced in value, or had
entirely escaped taxation, were allowed TO 90
free. There are good many John Browns,
however, in West Virginia who recognize
the propriety of of"equal and uniform taxation.o
aud the John Jones and John Smiths who
find themselves able to pay on an increased
valuation are allowing the demagogues to do
the grumbling.