Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-10-31

dous outrage against right and
Justice that has ever disgraced the
statutes of any State. = "But If
the rate is to be cut in two how
can you be so sorely injured ~
asked A. "Cut in twoq Do you
for a moment think any man who
has read the law believes that the
rate will be cut down enough to
benefit the farmers, according to
the way his property is to be
valued2 When he pays taxes on
the natural value of his land, on
all his improvements? Now re-
member, all-not a part as we
have been used to pay on. Ii he
plants out an orchard tree, sets
out a bed of strawberries, plants
out a row of goOseberries or cur
rants. sets out a small vineyard !;
if he puts his farm in shape by
building fences; if he clears a
few acres; if he fences in a gar
den, a chicken range, or if he en-
closes his yard and sets it out in
flowers and shrubbery, or if he re-
pairs his buildings and furnishes
his house or his barn: in fact, II
he does anything on his farm to
add to his comfort. and pleasure,
even although he may not realize
one cent Of profit from his i'm
provements, he will be sure to add
an overwhelming burden of taxes
to remind him Of the fact that
his farm will soon pass out OF his
possession. Now, | will show you
why the law is bound to so greatly
injure me: My property mostly
consists of my farm, buildings,
household and farm property such
as belong to any well regulated
farm; also my horses, COWS and
other stock. Last year my taxes
amounted to nearly $50. l have
had no oil produced on my land,
but my farm is not far from pro,
ducing territory. | always hold
my grain over for the raise in
prices, and we generally have
quite lot of potatoes when the
first day of April arrives. With
our fowl and young stock that
heretofore were not asseSsable
property, also small buildings not
formerly listed. Now, with these
new items and with all OF my
stock, my farm implements, my
buggy and wagons, my household
furnishings and my buildings and
farm implements assessed at their
actual value, even if the rate
should be cut in two, as the
bosses tell us they will be, my
taxes cannot possibly be less
than double what they are now
for the year 1905. In 1906, when
my land will be taxed under the
Dawson assessment, how am |,
and thousands of other landhold-
ers. to meet the increased demand
of the law? My land will call for
at least $40 per acre for the coal
that may lie under it. My near
est neighbor sold one-half OF his
oil and gas for 500 per acre,
which would make valuation OF
$40 for the oil and gas and $40
for the coal. and the surface value
is sure to be increased at least
$40, making an increase of $50 to
the acre; or, in plain words, | am
sure to be taxed on valuation OF
at least $50 per acre more than
under the old law. Look this ne
farious business squarely in the
face and you will see that the
farmer and landholder has no
loophole through which he may
crawl to escape ruin. The land.
owners and farmers are not to be
the only sufferers from the injus,
tice of the new law, but their
burden must be the heaviest be-
cause their profits are less accord,
ing to the valuation of their prop
erty than any other class of our
citizens; consequently, they will
be the first to succumb to the bur,
den of the Dawson tax law. The
law seems to have been enacted to
especially burden the farmer and
laboring classes generally. The
I ahorer ahOut towns must paw II