Iron County register., 1891-10-15
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT
THE SINGLE TAX WEDGE IN BRIT.
ISH COLUMBIA.

lSH COLUMBIA.
/ VANCOUVER, B. c., August 81, 1891
| The single tax cause in British Colum-
bia is by no means at y stand still,
though seldom heard from; but on the
contrary, is becoming a strong factor
in shaping public opinion and infuenc-
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.
A year ago all the public lands at the
disposal of the provincial government
were withdrawn from sale, in conse-
| quence of the 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 a hard fight with the
''moss-backs," an amended land act was
passed with clause changing the wild
land tax from eight cents per acre to
two per cent ad valorem. AS some of
this wild land has become very valua-
bic, though unimproved, the difference
is no small one. The significant fact
about this is, that the tax is not on the
land as formerly, but on it's value, and
the recognition of this principle in tax
alton is the first step towards total
>f SC
province and probably throughout the
Dominion.
An important amendment has also
been made to the pre-emption law. Be-
fore this all that was needed to get a
deed for pre-emption of 100 acres was
to employ an ''agent" generally China
| men) to burn off few acres, and then
| get two witnesses to swear in the ap-
| plication that $50 worth of improve
ments 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 and residence
proved before patent is granted This
alteration has effectaully put stop to
spectators pre-empting land. selling
it, and then repeating the performance.
| An act was also passed authorizing
municipalities to levy tax on land
within their jurisdiction up to two and
a 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 up speculation in town
lots. the curse of every city and village
| on this coast. AS a result of this enact
ment. the municipalities of Surrey and
| Langley have already adopted the ex-
emption of improvements from taxa
| ton, and as these two districts are
| chiefly agricultural, the farmers are to
| be congratulated for their clear sight
edness in taking the initiative in this
important movement, and for know
| ing in which direction their best inter
ests lie. 1t is only question of very
little time when the taxing of improve.
ments anywhere in British Columbia
| will be very much reduced or abolished
altogether.
! 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 a marked effect. A year
or two ago our best streets were cheer
fully given away for nothing to an elec-
trio street railway company Just now
! there is another railway company build
| ing a track-at the expense of the prop
erty owners along the line-to connect
the cities of New Westminster and Van
couver The company wished this city
| to grant them terminal facilities
| This means three miles of streets to be
| opened and graded free, the company
| deciding on the route which offered it
| the largest hYnus. The scheme of this
enterprising corporation to capture a
valuable franNhise-as the possession
of these streets in few years would
undoubtedly be-was promptly squelch-
ed by the city council. An arrange
ment has now been concluded between
the city and the company whereby the
latter get their terminal facilities, but
the city retains full control of the
streets, with power to tax the company
for their use, and the expense in open
ing and grading them. This agree
ment will be submitted to and voted on
by the taxpayers next month, and no
doubt will be carried with little opposi-
tion.
A bylaw for the city to purchase the
water works will be voted for at the
same time; and, as the terms are advan-
tageous to the city, there are small
fears of it. too, being passed
The present Electric Light and Street
Railway Co has been approached
with a view to the city buy
ing it out also; so the prob
abilities are that before long Vancouver
will own and operate its water works,
electric light and street railway. There
has been some hard and persistent
fighting in the council to accomplish
this much, and to our single tax friends
there, headed by Alderman Brown. the
credit and honors are directly due.
We have a powerful friend and ally
in our morning paper, the News Adver-
tiser. 1t is on the peoples side in all
municipal matters, and admits single
tax communications freely to its col
umns Its editor, Mr. f. G. Cotton, is
our senior member to the local legisla-
ture and has done excellent service
there in helping to frame and pass the
acts referred to- Altogether we feel
encouraged by what has been DONE and
feel hopeful for the future. That our
influence is enlarging and being felt in
quarters that generally pretend to ig-
more it, is evidenced by the remark of
well known large real estate owner and
speculator here. who, in answer to
friends inquiry as to how things were
with hin, rorliod. ssOl, {hara,.