Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-10-10
single Tax Work Bearing Fruit.

Single Tax Work Bearing Fruit.
Land reform is in the air. The per-
sistency with which the single tax doc
trines have been preached are bringing
about practical results in many quar-
ters, even without any change in the
law. In Chicago they are compelling
the real estate speculator to give up
portion of his gains to the rightful
owners-the community-by the simple
process of carrying out the existing law
and taxing unimproved lands up to their
full value. If even this much were
would very soon be felt. Land specula-
tors would be forced either to sell
which would mean general reduction
of prices and render land cheaper to
improve, thus giving labor employment
and putting up wages. 1t is surprising
how much could be done by simply
availing ourselves of laws now in force,
which have been set aside owing to
capitalistic influence.
The Chicago Times says that the as
sessed value of property in West Town
has been increased this year from
$50, 600. 900 to $40, $1,000. The increase
comes largely on lands owned by specu-
lators. West Town is the district of
which Mr.. Cantwell-of whom the
Standard has told sold so much lately
is the assessor. To give an idea Of
where the extra $4,000 900 has come
from, we cite two instances: One tract,
which was assessed last year at 5000, has
been assessed this year at $4,000; and
even that figure, says the Times, repre-
sents only one-tenth of its actual value.
Another tract, heretofore assessed at
5000, is rated this year at $40, $50; hut
whether this represents the same per-
centage of actual value as the first mon
toned tract, the Times does not say.
Though Mr.. Cantwell has given Chicago
people but small measure of justice,
they are to be congratulated that they
havean assessor brave enough to give
them as much as they have got in this
instance.
But it seems it is not in West Town
only that the good work is being done.
for we read an item from the Chicago
Herald, which says that Assessor Maher
of Hyde Park is working in the same
direction as Assessor Cantwell. He also
has raised the assessment in his district
81, O0O, 900. He said he was led to do it
because Of the complaints Of owners of
improved property, that they were be-
ing assessed at much higher percent
age Of the values of their holdings
than were the owners Of unimproyed
property. The assessor has increased
the ratio on that class from 40 to 800 per
cent.
In the Bozeman Chronicle of July 23d.
was an article on the single tax, writ
ten by Mr.. F. Latus, of Creamery. In
referring to the article the editor of the
Chronicle said: ''While we are not pre-,
pared to take the advanced position o,
the single tax men, we must admit that
Mr.. Latus's arguments in its favor are
well-nigh unanswerable. The single
tax men of Montana may feel much en-.
couraged when a. paper of the
standing of the Chronicle is
not afraid to say as much as this. II
is good evidence. that the idea is, spread
ing, and spreading very rapidly. The
Age, Bowlder, Mont.
The recent utterance Of Cardinal
Manning, that "In the providence OF
nature and of God, the soil belongs tc