The independent., 1903-05-21
How the Farmer Would Fare


Public and my attention has further
been called by W. H. ROebuck, sec
etary of the Toronto Single Tax as
-ocation. to the fact that your issue
Of May IA is to be entirely a single |
tax issue.
In this connection I beg leave to |
ask the privilege Of laying before the
rural readers particularly Of your
journal a few facts in connection with
the effects that might be anticipated
were the single tax adopted in coun-
try districts.
At first sight a farmer will invari-
ably conclude that the agitator lor
the single tax is trying 10 work on
some new kind Of a sWindle, and in
lrl,r 70 prove to his mind clearly
and convincingly that he is now be-
irg systematically sWindled. we have
but TO emphasize the fact that the
TAX bears only on land values.
In Canada the major portion of the
land values are owned by loan corpo-
rations and land companies, the farm
ers being m0rtRaged in many cases
for as high as Is per cent OF the value
Of their property. Briefly put, tax
on land value would mean that II a
farmer occupied piece OF land
worth. say $4,000 with a mortgage
upon it for $4,000, the loan company
or holder Of the mortgage would be
called upon to pay taxes on the 80
900; the farmer paying only on the
value Of the land TO which he can
claim title This is manifestly fair
TO both parties, as the holder OF the
mortgage is the pOssessOr Of natural
opportunity to the extent of the land
values represented by his mortgage
and should be taxed on such natural
opportunity.
The shifting. or rather replacing OF
taxation on land values only, in the
country districts where ii righfully
belongs would have effects more FAR
reaching than the most ardent adEO-
cate Of this reform is competent to set
forth either from the public platform
or through the press, great as the
power for influencing the pubic mind
through both these mediums is recog-
nized to be.
lie UTSL anu SItdItSl UDDiI W III
wealth producer would be the panic
which would take place in real es-
tate circles, as such a tax would
touch them where they are tender
viz: in the pocket, and it would no
more be a profitable investment TO
buy vacant or wild land in the hope
of farming the farmer. Land, when
the taxation has been placed upon the
real owners, and not the mortgage
ridden farmers, would Immediately
drop in price. And at the same time
that the land dropped in price, 1t Is
well TO call attention to the fact that
it would remain as productive as be-
fore. producing as many bushels OF
grain to the acre. Also, there would
be the same number of mechanics and
artisans of ali classes to be supplied
with fOod-stuffs keeping the market
for farm products high. 1t must sure
ly appear clear to anyone who will
| look at it for a moment that If land
becomes cheap and easy Of access
while the products thereof remain
even at current rates, or go higher,
| which there is reason TO believe they
will, the condition Of life in the cOun-
try must become ideal
| Under existing conditions. the more
| aggressive and thrifty the citizens Of
any district are the higher go the
/ hOrhOOd, while the workers pay tax
/ alton on their land values, the land
! values Of the mortgage corporations