Middletown transcript., 1895-08-24
FAvORS SINGLE TAX.

To THE EDITOR OF THE TRAN
SCRIPT. -Sir:-Kindly give me spac'
to say eometbing Of the Single Tax il
its purely economic aspect. This taz
is laid upon species of property thai
cannot be concealed, and that may
always be accurately assessed. 1t is a
direct tax, and as such is felt at once
by the tax payer, so that he promptly
cries out when the tax is exorbitant.
This is wholesome check on public
extravaganza. Indirect tax is not
subject to such check because they
work insidiously and extract money
from the pocket without alarming the
loser. The Single Tax is just because
it is laid, not upon what the individual
laborer by hand or brain produces, but
upon that value of land created by the
presence of a civilized community.
The land lying about the spot where l
am writing is as rural in aspect as the
fields about Middletown, though not so
productive, yet most of this land is
worth at least 81 500 per acre, some of
it fully $4,000 per acre, and the re-
mainder, held for sale IN lots 25x1O0
feet, is worth any where between
$1,000 and $4,000 per acre. There lies
within a stones throw 100 acres of
woodland that is worth in the lump
nearly 100000. You know better
than what farm land and unimproved
lots within the limits of MiddletOwn
are orth, but their value must be less
than one-tenth that of the property
hereabouts. Why the differencep The
land here lies within the limits of New
York City, with 100000 inhabitants
many of whom must seek homes in
this direction. The Single Tax will
fall most heavily upon such lands as
this-unimproved or inadequately i'm
proved lands-within or near consider
able centres of population.
The persons to be benefited by the
Single Tax are ninety-nine one hun
dredths of all men that earn their
bread by labor of any sort, whether of
hand or of brain. Any man whose
house is worth more than his land,
whether he be laborer, mechanic, doc
tor, preacher, merchant or banker.
The working farmer tilling his own
land will profit by the tax, because he
will be relieved A all State and local
taxation on his buildings, and on his
live stock, machinery, implements and
all other personal property.
Who then will find his taxes increased |
under this system2 The man that |
owns corner lot, which he holds for a |
rise, neither improving it nor permit |
ting it to be improved by another. The
man that maintains ram-shackel tene-
ments on highly valuable city land,
drawing high rentals from the occu-
pants. The man that owns a dozen |
farms and lives on the rentals doing no |
work, and furnishing no capital for |
their cultivation.
But, says some one, the owner will |
raise the rent by the exact amount of |
the tax, and so shift the latter upon
the tenant. He cannot. Land, on the
whole now rents for what it is worth.
There are only two ways of increasing
The value of an article, to decrease the
supply of that article or to increase
The demand for it. TO tax land cannot
decrease the supply of land, nor can it
increase the demand for it. Hence, as
land now rents for its value the Single
Tax cannot be shifted upon the tenant.
This question is one of vast import
ance. The state that is twenty or even
.en years ahead of her neighbors in
adopting this form of tax alton will
begin to be garden spot while they
Ire yet seeking just system. Why?
Because that State will be the only one
IN the Union that does not tax men
'or the privilege of earning their bread,
,he only one that leaves workers of all
sorts free of taxation upon their in
lustry, the only one that does not fine
/ man for improving his land, for
building good house, for keeping a
good horse, for buying improved i'm
elements. l believe that Delaware has
. great opportunity'in the Single Tax
and that it behooves every
public spirited citizen to 60 to the
bottom of this question, every honest
ind courageous editor to seek the
ruth and having found it to proclaim
t without fear or favor.
Respectfully,
E. N. VALLANDIGHAM,
WAKEFIELD, N CITY, Aug. II '95.
What use Is there in eating when food
loes you no good-in fact, when it does
-ou more harm than good, for such is the
ase ifit is not digested.
you have loathing for food there is
10 use of forcing it down, for it will not be
igested. You must restore the digestive
rgans to their natural strength and cause