The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-08
nnnh Innn. nnl the Genernl W.lfnrO.

The theo r!es OF Mr., Henry George, ed
vapced in his writings and in his public
addresses, have brought him q large iol'
lowing. Mr., George denounces as abuses
abnorual aocisl and political growths'
which arc commonly ielt to bo just what
lie calls them. Opinions may diIIeF con-
cerpinv causes; the Effects ere beyond de-
nial. There Is alill less agreement with
Mr., George when he proposes remedies
Int with the most startling ha includes
more rational ard practical measures long
advocated by thoughtful men who have
n, wish to wrong the rich but would be
fair 10 tho working poor. And go it hap.
pans that by combination OF truth and
error, Of obvious fact with plausible but
mischieyous iallacy, Mr.. George has RI'
tracted to himself q large following. We
regard Mr.. George as swelI'mesnins man,
deceived by the fallaclouu reasoning oil
his remarkably ingenious MUD.
Mr.. George arouses bis hearers TO en-
thuaissm when he declarCs itwrong for a
man to bs allowed to hold at small coat to
himself improved ground in the city OF
New York, the value Of the holding being
steadily increased by no effort or outlay
Of his own, but in fact growingin value by
reason Of tho presence in that city Of q
dense population a large part OF which Ia
practically homeless. This Eocial wrong
Ia by no means confined to Now York,
There Is not q city In the country in which
the same thing Is. not aeen. A man holds
piece Of ground which he has no inten'
ton OF improving for human habitation
or his ground encumbered with rattle
trap building which would be removed ah
the first Gtep towards improvement
Other men owning real estate in the
neighborhood improve theirs, and it all
improves together.
The man who let's hiG ground lie dead
accepts tho increase Us though 1t were
fairly his. LISA case Of dividends not
drawn but permitted to accumulate. A
d whole community Of such mon would die
olinnnitlon. The man VIC have supposed
contributes nothing to tho general vel
fare. He does nothing with his ground
nor will cell il at fair market price that
come one also may utilize 1t. He is deal.
ing in "futures" with the certainty Of
winning unless everybody else falls into
his own bad way.
This practice and itB bad results are not
confined to urban real estate. They are
illustrated on q large scale in the case Of
the so.Called wild lands Of West Virginia.
In this State millions Of acres are held
in the hope that the improvements made
by the money and the industry of other
men will greatly add to their
market value. They could not be bought
for aCtuel settlement OF their present mar.
ket value. They are assessed 50 low for
taxation that 1t costs nearly nothing to
keep them, and better returns are prom.
ised from holding them idle. This is one
1.-THE causes which have contributed 10
keeping down tho population Of West
Virginia, which ought to DO increaued
largely by immigration.
When the people come to weigh these
things in their relation to the general
prospects, and the common welfare, way
will be found to remedy tho evil at least
in part. The way will probably DO found
through q system Of taxation that will in
duce holders Of unimproyed ground 10 do
something with 1t or cell it to somebody
who will.