Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-06-07
OWE AND TAXES.
A Correspondent Discourses on Bot
Relative to California.

A Correspondent Discourses on Both
Relative to California.
A late clipping from the San Luis
Obispo CAL Tribune reminds us that
that journal is prominently sur
rounded by a land of flowers. Had the
old Spanish navigator, Ponce de Leon,
made his landing anywhere along the
Pacific coast between San Diego and
San Francisco, about this season of the
year instead of where he did, Pascua
Florida. he would probably have given
US another name TO be proud Of in place
OF California, for the region occupied
by that undeveloped empire. This is
the time OF year, aud the year, when,
on account of the extraordinary winter
rains, the flowers may be seen at their
best. The wild flowers have about all
gone to seed and ceased to bloom, but
the innumerable pretty village yards
are all sglow with gaudy flowers OF the
richest varieties. The rose is outdoing
herself. Flower festivals are in order
with all church societies, and the ladies
are working into new and beautiful
combinations this great wealth OF color
and perfume, All the old designs are
worked and reworked, and artistic skill
is taxed for new combinations.
AT q flower festival no long since in
the vicinity of Los Angeles a full size
elephant composed of flowers was the
unique attraction, and more recently.
at a flower display in San Luis Obispo,
in their exhibition pavilion, Mrs. Ford
and Mrs. Schow made the second
largest flower piece in the form Of a
colossal bride, veil, orange wreath, and
all the conventional adornments, made
mostly of roses and buds. This piece
of artistic work drew commentator
from every observer.
1t is TO be hoped that in the near fut-
ure a social order will be brought about
that will do way with the monster that
is still keeping this, our fair sister state,
a bowling desert, where it should be
our most smiling garden. Blest with
eternal summer, many Of the most pro-
ductive villages of California are in the
firm grasp of a few great land specula-
tors. The best and most productive
lands are generally held from those who
would and could improve them by per-
sons who bought them for mere nominal
prices, but who now ask prices that
virtually make it out Of the question for
the poor laborer to use them. What is
the remedy for this state OF things? Is
it not the single tax? Would it not be
well to destroy speculation in land2
Can We not do this thing by taxing lard
according to 1t value, owing TO location
and productiveness? Would a tax on
land values, that is, a single tax, work
as many hardships as did the emancipa-
| fipn ~ onutbnrr nIaunoO Cnnld mn NOT
fairly raise our necessary revenues from
lands, which can always be found, and
assessed as we'll and much more easily
than from coin, jewelry, goods and other
movable things? Would you have much
difficulty in building a good block upon
Fourth street, Sioux City, Ia, corner OF
Jackson, if you owned the land to place
it upon? What's the use of fining tax
ing) a person for the luxury OF decent
improvements? Unless there is, let u:
investigate the feasibility of the single
tax, and that upon land values.
SINGLE TAxER.