Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-07-28
WHAT THE PEOPLE OWN.
Public Property in Wheeling Worth
Three or -Four Millions,

Every Man, Woman and Chllo IN
the City - The Unconscious
Growth Of Common Ownership
Well Illustrated Here at Home.
Introduce the subject of communal
ownership of anything in any group OF
value Of the properties, and not all that
citizens. and the chances are that
majority of those present will oppose
any such idea as being all wrong in
theory and pernicious in practice and
there Will be strong contention that
tbe only assurance of continued progress
in business. in invention and in civiliza-
tion itself depends upon the individual
ownership of all forms Of property and
the private or corporate conduct Of all
enterprises of whatever character. This
is undoubtedly the general feeling OF
majority of the public, and it is founded
upOn both experience and reason. Yet
those who take the most decided stand
upon this alleged tendency to socialism
and communism doubtless never gave
thought 70 the vast amount or property
of various sorts owned by the people IN
common. even in 50 small a city as
Wheeling. and most of the opponents or
this sort OF thing would be the first 10
resent any disturbance of the existing
order of things. And not only this, but
many of them would be entirely willing
TO have this joint ownership of property
extended. The truth is. they are OPP
posed 20 the idea of communal owner
ship In the abstract. but are IN favor OF
IL in so many instances, and make 50
many. exceptions Of one sort or another,
that they virtually surrender their en-
tire position unconsciOuSly and unwlt-
tingly and are really adherentS OF the
idea. or az least modification OF II,
which actuated the Communists Of Paris
in 1871. and which is the fundamental
principle OF all the various schools of
men who are struggling to overturn the
existing order OF things and install in
its place common ownership OF every
thing.
Take Wheeling rs an example of the
extent 10 which common ownership OF
property exists without question as 10
is being right and proper. Millions OF
dollars worth of real estate are here
virtually owned by the people in COM
mon. 20 say nothing Of such things as
the distribution OF water, the manufac-
ture and sale Of gas. electric light plant,
etc. The list OF real estate the title OF
which is in the whole people OF the city
is q formidable one. and far exceeds in
actual worth the holdings of any dozen
of our richest men. Glance AZ some OF
the items:
Ten school houses and grounds
say. e. o. ...............S5u U.UVO
Seven hose houses. 100000
Two market houses. ........... 100000
City Hall. Court House and Jail. 100000
City Common. .....-.....-... 1oU.UVO
Gas Works. ground and plant. 100000
Water Works realty, machinery,
etc......... $500. 100000. -UV,uOu
Ten public bridges. 800. 100000
City Cemetery. ........... 80. 2o,UOO
Various items Of real estate.... $4,000
This list. which is intended to give
only the approximate cost or market
value OF the properties. and not at all
what they are worth as revenue pro-
ducerS. alone foot up S1.S0OOOO. No
effort is here made 10 compute or take
into account the immense value OF TIE
many public improvements, such as
street paving. gas and water pipes and
many other things bought, paid for and
owned by the city.
In addition there is another large class
Of property. In which the ownership Is
not in the people rs q whole, when any
one item is considered. yet the whole
people virtually own them when con-
sidered i'm bulk. These items are the
churches and other property owned by
religious bodies property belonging 70
fraternal organizations. etc. which in
this city is easily worth another million
or more. swelling the total of these
items TO about S3.000.000 or nearly one
seventh of the entire assessed valuation
of the city. owned by the people as
whole in common. Ii We take another
view of the case. and estimate such
items as the markets. the water works
and the gas works and electric light
plant. not nc what they have cost for
grounds. buildings and machinery. but
nc what they would bring if sold 20 pri-
waite individuals or companies. upon a
valuation fixed by their ability TO earn
SIX per cent dividends, It is probable
that another million could with safety
be added 70 the total sum. bringing. it
up 70 four millions. or $l00 for every
man. woman and child in the city. This
estimate is not too large. and shows
that common ownership has obtained a
pretty good hold upon society. and DEM
onstrates that while il may be very
proper and common thing 20 denOunce
Communism IS an irrideScent dream
and q thing wholly pernicious and i'm
practicable, the idea is nevertheless we'll
woven into the warp and wO0f OF things
rs they exist. and IS concrete and in
sporadic part Of our government BY and
Of the people. This public propertv is
constantly increasing in value. and be-
Ing added to in many ways. as the ag-
gregate population and wealth OF the
city increases, but no one appears 10
think Of tx as IL really exists-commu-
nal property. owned in common by the
whole people. and bought and paid for
by them.
Communism may be all wrong. but
its got pretty good hold upon society.
Lust the same.