The Colfax chronicle., 1891-11-21
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT
The SINGLE TAX WEDGE IN BRIT.
lSh COLUMBIA.

VANCOUVER, d. c., August 81, 1s91.-
Inc single tax cause in British Colum.
OLA Is by no means at stand still,
tnough seldom heard from; but ON the
contrary, is becoming a strong factor
In shaping public opinion and influenc.
ing the provincial and municipal gov.
ernments.
Indeed, during the present year our
cause may be said to have gained some
decided and signal victories, both in
the legislature and in our various mu-
inequalities.
year ago all the public lands at the
disposal of the provincial government
were withdrawn from SALE in conse-
quence of tho strong pressure brought
TO bear on the executive. resulting from
the agitation showing how the public
domain was being monopolized by mere
spectators, thus checking the settle
ment and development of the country,
producing general stagnation and dull
times The consequence was that at
the last session of the provincial par
lament, after hard fight with the
'moss-backs,' an amended land act was
passed with clause changing the wild
land tax from eigh. cents per acre TO
two per cent ad valorcm As some of
this wild land has become very valua-
BILE. though unimprovcd, the difference
is no small oae. The significant fact
about this is. that the tax is not ON the
land es formerly. but on its value, aud
the recognition OF this principle in tax
ation is the first step towards q total
reversion of the land policy in this
province and probably throughout the
Dominion.
An important amendment has also
been made TO the presumption law. Be
fore this all that was needed to get
deed for emption of 100 acres was
to employ nm agent generally China
men) to lurn off few acres, and then
get two witnesses to swear in the ap-
plication that $50 worth of improve.
,nents had been done on the claim. The
patent was then issued on payment of
one dollar per acre. Now. in addition
to the improvements house must be
erected. and cultivation AID residence
proved befors patent is granted This
alteration has cffectaully put stop to
spectators pre-empting land. selling
1t, and then repeating the performance.
An act was also passed authorizing
municipalities to levy tax on land
within their jurisdiction up to two and
half per cent, and permitting the
taxing of improvements to be optional.
Here, again. is the thin edge Of the
single tax wedge that before long will
split and break mp speculation in town
lots. the curse of every city and village
on this coast. AS Il result OF this enact
ment. the municipalities of Surrey and
Langley have already adopted the ex-
emption Of improvements from taxa
tion, and rs these two districts are |
chiefly agricultural the farmers are to |
be congratulated for their clear sight |
edness in taking the initiative in this |
important " ~vnent, and for know |
ing in which d..sSt;,,n th,ir best inter
csts lie. It's only question OF very
little time when the taxing of improve
ments anywhere in Br,: sh Columbia |
VIII be very much reduced or abolished
So far as this city is concerned. the
influence of pronounced single takers.
and the growing body of those who
dimly observe glimmer of the 'cat,"
is producing marked effect year
or two ago our best streets were cheer
fully given away for nothing to an elcc-
trio street railway company. just now
there is another railway com pany build
ing a track-at the expense of the prop
erty owners along the l;ne-to connect
the cities of New Westminster and VAN
The company wished this city
TO grant them terminal facilities.
This means three miles OF streets to be
opened and graded free, the company
on the route which offered it
The largest bonus. The scheme of this
corporation to capture
franch;sc--as the possession
IT these streets in few years would /,
undoubtedly bc--was promptly squelch-
ID by the city council. An arrange
ncnt has now been concluded between |
he city and the company whereby the
after get their terminal facilities, but 7
he city retains full control of the
trceta with power to tax the company {
or their use, and the expense in open
ng md grading them. This agree
nent will be submitted to and voted on Q
y the taxpayers next month. and no
oubt will be carried with little opposi-
ION 9
A bylaw for the city to purchase the
vater works will be voted for al the 9
anne time; and. as the terms are adyan- q
ageous to the city, there are small
ears of it too being passed. r
The present Electric Light and Street
'ailway Co. has been approached
nth view to the city buy
,g IL out also; so tho prob
bili:ies are that before long Vancouver
I'LL own and operate its water works. .
lectric light and street railway. There Z
~ been some hard and persistent Y
ghting in the council to accomplish o
,is much. and to our single tax friends II
,ere. head ID by Alderman Brown. the n