Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-01-31
Tirginia fire. grrss.
HAS NO STATE DEBT.
That Is What Governor Mac Corkte Says
About West Virginia.

In regard to recently published state
ment to the effect that the State debt OF
West Virginia was SlS4,5ll which sum had
grown from Sl29,4ll in ten years, Governor
MacCorkle writes the Sun as follows:
This is an entire mistake, and does in
justice to the State not only by making it
appear that we have debt, but that it is
surely growing. The State does not owe a
cent of debt. The makers OF our constitu-
ton, taking wise counsel from the expert
ence of Virginia, placed in that instrument
a provision making it impossible to create
any State debt. This was intended to put
il utterly out OF the power of the Legisla-
ture to impose continuing burdens on the
people. Time has shown the wisdom of this
course.
"Ths care on the part Of the law makers
that the people Of the State should not be
over burdened with bonded State debt has
not alone been confined to the State proper,
but around the counties and municipalities
has been placed nearly every possible safe
guard. Our law provides that if any coun-
ty or district wishes to create any indebt
edness for any public improvement, the
county court must first approve it and sub
nit it regularly to an election by the peo
pie. at which election it must be carried by
not less than three fifths of the qualified
voters; and said debt must not amount to
more than per cent. of the taxed values
of the county So with municipalities -
After the council has approved ii, the peo-
pie must pass on and it must be carried by
ibree-flths vote
an c ~ of more than twenty thousand
inhabitants the rate of taxation shall mo-
exceed two per centum on the assessed value
If the property for State purposes; a city
of more than ten thousand and less thar
twenty thousand, not exceeding $3.50 oil
the 500. city of more than three thou
land and less than ten thousand, the ta'
shall not exceed 81 % on the 500.
an addition to this the law is imperatiy
that sinking fund must be created to pa
off a bonded debt thus created. So you Sc
every possible precauton has been taken
prevent the people from being overburdene
with bonded debt or with great annua
burden OF taxes.
"Not only do we have no debt, but tn
J irreducible and interest bearing school fun
Of our State is S7SO,0OO, Our State Ia
rate is only little over 80 cents on the SlOC
Our wealth increased from 1907 100000 /
1880 TO S465, 0O0,0 900 in 1890. Our railroa
mileage increased from COL miles in 1880
700 miles in 1898 In 1880 we produce
!, .404 900 tons of coal in 1892 we produce
, S,777, $50 tons.
"In 1898, Notwithstanding it was such
}. hard year, our coal production was 10 92S
920 tons, an increase over 1892 of 2,2lS,OS
tons-over 20 per cent. In 1892 we EN-
j ployed 1854 inside mine.workers and j
!. 1898 we employed IL ITO. In 1880 we ha
completed 63l coke ovens in 1892 we hat
completed $3.50. In 1898 we had compile
= I'd G. S25 ovens, an increase of 1886 owe
over 1892. In addition to this we have un
der process of construction ,ll2 coke ovens
= We added last year eleven new coal opera
tions to our list.
"Our county aud municipal indebtedness
together only amounts TO about 0ne.half o
; one per cent. of the value of our wealth.
J. Fully one.half of this county and municipal
4 Indebtedness has been incurred in tn,
building of railroads which have had fol
their object the Development of virgin ter
rtory.
This statement has added force when we
consider that all the paraphernalia Of a new
State has been created We have constructs
ed magnificent capitol building, peniten-
riary, deaf, dumb and blind asylum, almost
wholly constructed an insane asylum and
wholly constructed another one. Our nor
NAL school system is magnificent All Of
these schools are in splendid buildings. Al
of this without any bonded debt or adding
one dollar to the burdens of the taxpayer.
Our tax,s are low and our progress is un-
precedented in the history of the States
IN addition to this the citizens of our
State have within the last five years reduc
ed the average per capita of their indebted
ness to the extent of at least eighteen per
cent. and at no time in The last ten years
has the average increase of per capita in
deb,edness kept pace with the average pei
capita increase of the wealth of the citizens
of.lhe State. My observation is that Thu
is an almost Unprecedented showing"
"GentIe as the Summer Breeze"
"Id rather take thrashing any time
= than duSe of pills, groaned patieit to
whom the doctor has prescribed physics.-
| .sId ~ Loft ha sick with what ails me navy