The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-04
Letter from Hon. A. F. Wlthrow


There appeared in editorial form in the "yAL-
LEY vIRGINIAN'' of nth instant comments on
resolution offered by himself in the legislature
few days before
The resolution was offered fer the purpose
OF putting on foot some Investigations with the
object Of deriving some rex enues on taxable
properties in the State. The writer in comment
Ing upon this resolution sees ft to attack me
without knowing my motives, bat the article
gives me valuable Information, FOR which ! am
thankful.
/ am unable to see that there is any other
proper way to get at the value OF assessabie
property than by it's cash market price, aud
cannot see the logic in the argument that the
correct way of arriving at it is by the revenue
derived from the property.
Like himself, / remember when the Low Moor
iron property was worthless, and paid no rev
enues to the county or the State; he states that
its present value is 81 100000. Is the Low Moor
company paying taxes to the State on this
amount, or even one half of it?
! The writer of the article attacking rue, and
his associates, paid sl5e,GGO for the Rich Patch
| property; will he let the people know what it
| is assessed at Like the writer in the s'VIR-
| GINTAN," think that wild lands should be as
t'sessed at nominal price per acre, but as soon
| as their value increases, as shown by their
| sales, the taxes on the same should advance
| proportionately.
| Further, this writer deems it Just according
| to his argument, that these wild lands should
| continue to stand as at present, in the hands
OF the capitalist Of the North bought at very
| low prices, held as speculation and assessed
at nominally nothing, till they are sold and re-
sold and finally get into the hands of a develop
| ing company before state and county revenues
/ SbOll1G increased hal !u Ana
sessed at but little per acre, while they are
owned at a cash cost Of from s. to $50 per acre
! The commissioners hooks of Dickinson county
| show that nearly the whole county is owned
and held by spectators and that the revenue
is ELECTED on an assessment only of only $780,,
| co., while the county Of Loufoun is assessed at.
and pays on her assessment Of over $1,000 00l.
! Comparing the values of tho two counties
| Dickinson's is the greater.
| Now, viii the writer of the article attacking
| my resolution claim that Dickinson county lands
| should remain as at present, and that the chill
dren Of that county should grow uo in ignor-
alce simply because the owners don't see fit to
dew elop these lands.
Referring to the property mentioned viz;
Lon ydale, Iron Mountain, Dolly Ann, etc,
know personally the gentlemen in charge OF
them; and believe not one would hesitate for
moment to pay the state and county all that
fair assessment would bring.
AS au Illustration Of the injustice to the state
of assessing valuations OF property by the rev.
elue from same, let Clifton Forge furnish an
example, A lot there was assessed at $s5, and
same was sold ana resod up to say, S3,0O0, no
improvements have beal pat on the lot, the
owner has received no income from it, vet, ac-
cording of the reasoning of the editorial in the
.'VIRGTNIAN' the assessment should remain at
80 When the writer OF that editorial fully
realizes the merits OF my resolution, think he
will sac all ask is equal tlxlto on all prop
erty as per their values IS sAoWl by ash sales.
The writer further says st is not statesman
Ship it is not friendship To Virginia, to propose
measures designed to exact un just tribute from
those who have placed money in non producing
properties" In reply, will simply ask if it is
statesm anship to allow capitalists to come into
the State, buy up all our mineral lands sell and
resell them at enormous profits, ana never pay
any taxes on them simply because they never
developed them? | am representing in the leg
isa5ura the people of Allegheny, Highland and
Bath counties. people long wronged by low
assessments OF lands held by the rich, AMI by
the help of God ana this legislature we are
going to Try to right these wrongs
Yours truly
A. F. WITHRow.-