The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-04

w ltiii W iudtAit NNtAA'>i'i bisNbSo3 NAiOA
he is not inflicted with now from that
source
Mr. Withrow, it is true, technically
was elected TO represent the counties OF
Allegheny, Bath and Highland, but
when he proposes an inquiry such as the
one that has called forth this controver-
sy. he aspires to repfesentSand legislate
for the whole State-for the rich and
poor alike, for he cannot have enacted
law that will make fish of one and fowl
of the other. II there has been wrong
inflicted uponIany one of the counties
named by the investment of capital IN
wild lands, in the hope of their ultimate
DEVELOPMENT, such as Low Moor, Long
dale, Rich Patch, Dolly Ann, Iron Noun
tain. Stack. and other mines and indus
tries have attained, we fail to see it
There is no county in the State which
contains more intrinsic wealth than Al
Ieghany. acreage considered, that awaits
the apnlication of capital for its utiliza-
ton. Is it wise public policy to drive
capital from investing in these lands by
onerous taxation, while in the ncn-pro-
ductiye state Is it not better that
every inducement should be held out to
invite capital here, in the hope that that
which is now dead and practically value
less, may become a source OF revenue 3
What difference does it make in wild
lands If they happen TO be owned by a
poor man or rich man, unless capital
is applied for their development? Where
does the oppression come in? We think
Mr.. Wit!lrow's dramatic peroration is at
the expense Of the reason of the case
Nobody will be misled by it, and the
Legislature will never pass a bill, in con-
formity to Mr.. Withrow's inquiry. In
deed Mr.. Withrow's own experience con-
fronts his proposition. and condemns it.
If we have not Keen lnisinformed, he
made his start ia life off of nominally
taxed lands His industry and business
sagacity extracted values from them that
were not taxed. He leinvested his prof
its in revenue producing properties and
channels, and thus the dead wealth
which he converted into live values, be-
came a source of revenue to himself and
the State That is what others are try
ing to do, but whether they shall be as
successful as has been Mr. Withrow. is a
question that only time and good deal
of anxiety and labor can determine. The
estimated intrinsic value of wild mineral
lands will in the course of time be tested
by the application of effort and money.
If the result proves that the estimates
are correct, then development will pro
gress; taxable values be created and
revenue derived to the county and State.
But do not discourage capital and enter
prise by placing developed value upon
wild lands and taxing item On that basis,
before practical test has been made as
to whether the value really exists or not.
To do so, would be q hardship upon
many poor man who owns undevelop-
ed mineral lands, and practically forbid
the rich man from Investing in the poor
mans lands with a view to development.
There is no oppression in this-no wrong
to any one, nor to the State, but sound
business sense and sound public policy.
Mr.. Withrow is one of the most use
full men this section of the State has
ever had We believe his motives are
beyond question. We, however, dissent
from the policy he would adopt, because
we believe it would work harm to the
State and operate to the disadvantage
of the very people he assumes are op
pressed. There is a mutually in society
that binds all classes together whether
rich or poor. Each is essential to the
public welfare, and it is not wise or pa
trlotic to seek to draw invidious distinc
tion and assume that one class is the OPP
pressor of the other That can never be
in this free country. The rich are essen
tial to the poor, and the Door to the rich
for it is by the money of the one that
the undeveloped vlaues of the other are
made available for the uses of the
there could be no development, and
without development there could be no
revenues from wild mineral lands, let
the estimate of intrinsic value be what
it might
Mr. Withrow and this writer know
what it is to be poor. But we doubt
whether either of them ever recognized
the hand of an oppressor. Rather than
acknowledge that oppression existed
they would defy it, and appeal to their
own manhood to assert their rights and
equal privileges with the most highly
favored. Nine out of every ten men have
gone through the same experience, and
instead of yielding slavish submission
to adverse conditions, have faced and
conquered them. The laws are made fo-
all alike, and when it is assumed that
one class has the right to Cypress anoth.
er, it is without warrant Of law. It is
simply an assumption, . figure of speech
to evoke a kind of sympathy that is
crave. as a substitute for earnest con
vcton, sustaied by reason and com
mon sense.