Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-09
FARMERS MEETING.
Reassessments of Lands Considered.

meeting of farmers of this section
called to discuss the reassessment OF
lands, was called to order and Charles
Brooks was called to the chair, and
j. r. kemper was made secretary. The
question of the meeting having been
stated, Capt. Conner offered the follow
ing paper -
FIsHKRsvILLE, VA, Jan. 9th, 1885,
Preamble and Resolutions.
Whereas, In the last five years, the
products of our farms having depre-
ciated greatly in value. and cOnse-
quently our ability to pay taxes have
been lessened in like proportion, and
whereas, our adjoining sister States OF
almost equal area. wealth and popula-
ton, are governed equally as well, at a
cost approximating one half of our
State and county expenses;
Therefore be it Resolved; First
1t is the sense of this meeting that the
assessment of our lands ought to be re-
duced commensurately. Second: We
do most earnestly demand a reduction
in our State and county expenses, in a
spirit of fairness and in a practical and
stateslnanlike manner.
Captain Coiner said that in the last
five years our products of the farm had
deprecated in value about one half,
and our lands were worth to-day in
proportion to the value of the products
therefrOm, while our expenses were in
creasing all the time. We had too
many officials to pay, and if we did not
get our taxes decreased, we would be
bankrupt. Other counties were pro-
posing to reduce their asses sments, and
we should certainly have our lands re-
duced. The chairman stated that it
would be well to express some idea of
the amount of reduction.
Dr. Hanger said he thought the lands
in the Valley should be reduced more
in proportion than other sections, as
our lands were assessed so much
higher than lands of equal value in
other parts of the State. If we re-
duced the assessments fifty per cent. it
would prohabl be no more than the re
duction in the price of farm products.
If the assessment on lands is reduced,
then the rate of taxation will be in
creased, and personal property bonds
would have to bear their equal and
prOportionate part.
Hon G w. Koiner said he under
stood the object Ct the meeting was to
discuss the reassessment of lands, and
this was very opportune time to con-
slider this important question. The
fact was that the Valley of Virginia
was bearing the burden of the State
expenses, with some help from South
west Virginia. The farmers pay from
rs to so per cent. of the taxes of the
State. which was altogether unequal.
Two remedies he would suggest. One
was the reduction of the assessment on
lands, and another to cut down and
simplify the expenses of the State and
county. This could be accomplished
by State convention, if we would
send representatives who desired this
kind OF change. Our expenses, if we
had a government like Tennessee or
North Carolina, should be about one
half of what they are now. Itemized
accounts should be required of all
State and county officials, of every dol
lar that is spent, that the people who
pay the taxes may know where their
money goes. Virginia spent last year
$1,000 to protect the oyster interest,
when those beds should yield half a
million revenue per year. These oyster
beds belong to the people of the whole
State. ind not to any one sectiOn.-
100000 per year was offered rental for
Pocomoke Sound for ten years, but
the Legislature refused to allow the
Governor to accept the contract. Sala
ries of officials should be reduced or
the number curtaiIed, and thus lessen
the burdens of the people. If all these
matters were looked into, the burden
on land might be reduced.
NJ, Macon cold no uanto1 70 600 fhic
move on the part of the people, to
tighten the burdens of taxation, which
were becoming well nigh unbearable.
Before the war, with one-third more
territory than we now have. the whole
government was run for $468,0O0 per
year. We have too many officials to
pay, and the number should be les
sened as we'll as the salaries. We send
three fourths lawyers to legislate for
the farmers, who are greatly in the
majority.
Mr.. Brooks said the most practical
question for us to consider now was
the reassessment OF our lands, and
while we are willing to bear our pro-
portionate share of the burdens, we
desire an equal reduction. We want
simply to find out what our land is
worth, regardless of any other question
or interest. The extremely low price
of wheat, we are told, las come to
stay, and being only one half the
former price, certainly our lands are
not worth what they formerly we're
All the products of land-wheat, hay,
wool, horses,-in fact, all the farmer
produces is extremely low, and the
producer cannot go on at this rate
much longer. If we do not raise our
voices in our own behalf, no one else
will If we have our lands valued at
their true worth, then it will cause
the people to demand a reduction in
expenses.
DR. Hildebrand said he hoped the
gentlemen present would express an
opinion as to the amount of reduction
they thought would be right and in
keeping with the present prices of
produce.
Mr.. Paul said he would like to know
if there was no way to equalize the as
sessment of lands in the Valley with
other portions of the State. Ii there
was much reduction there would have
to be an increase of the rate. He was
informed by a gentleman from Fau-
Quier county that lands there as good
as ours here were assessed at twelve to
fifteen dollars, while ours was thirty to
forty.
DR.. Hanger said if man raised one
thousand bushels of wheat and it cost
him more to produce it than he got for
it. he certainly made nothing by the
transaction, and it was SO with wheat
and other products of the farm, and
he thought land should be reduced
fifty per cent. We were now com
petlng with the cheap lands and
cheaper labor Of the world, and could
not successfully compete on our high
priced lands.
Mr. David Coiner said we were now
competing with Canada and Mexico,
with her vast and fertile plains, and
we could not raise cattle or wheat in
successful competition with such
rivals, and he thought fifty per cent
reduction auout right.
DR.. Hildebrand said while the low
prices vindicated a fifty per cent re,
duction, he thought certainly thirty,
three per cent would be little enough.
Mr.. McCue said that our lands being
assessed high five years ago. that was
the more reason why it should be re-
duced now at least fifty per cent.
Messrs. George Coiner, John T
Leonard, J. Il. Black. A. G.. McCue, A