The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-03-10
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Il Monongalia count 81 Tie home. oI
the two illustrious G eorg es-Hcn.
George q stdrgiss and Hon. Geo. G.
Baker. These gentlemen are strong
reform adyoeates and their work
is being felt throughout the State!
On yesterday the aIonongalla County
Court passed one Of the most import
ant ordersFin the history Of the State,
and .theEoutcomc Of its enforcement
will BIO watched by a million West
Virginians and several Interested out.
siders. The order is as follows:
Order to assess leases for; oil and gas.
and also fixtures. etc.:
This day came George G. Baker, at.
torney, on behalf Of the tax payers
of this county, praying that the
court Will direct the two assessors Of
the county to assess 10 the oil and
gas producers and owners their 1eas.
es and fixtures for oil and gas pur.
poses. 81 81
And 1t appearing 10 the court that
the oil and gus, in this county, arc
held by leases upon the farms and
other real estate. and that the oil and
gas, have not been taxed 10 the les
see or lessees, although oil and gas
have been produced in paying quaint.
ties in this county for almost flfteeI.
years, and that the lcase.holders and
leases for oil and gas purposes, which
are owned by the oil and gas pro.
ducers, have paid no taxes whatever.
And 1t furthef appearing to the
court that this county Is being drain.
cd Of It's oil and It's gas pumped from:
this State by corporations and per-
sons residing outside OF the State OF
West Virginia, and that within n few
years the oil and gas In and under.
our lands will be soon pumped away
into foreign State. without any re-
turn whatever being made to tho
State and county by The non.resl.
dents or other persons owning the
leases for oil and gas purposes, ana
the court being Of the opinion that al,
persons or corporations owning prop
erty. either real or personal, in this
county. should pay their fair prcpor.
ton OF taxes, as provided by the
Constitution OF the State.
And II further appearing TO Tie
court that the fixtures, consisting Of
the derrick, boiler. engine, tubing,
casing. ETC. used In the drilling and
production of oil and gus in this
county, have practically escaped tax.
alton. entirely, as shown by the rec.
ords in this office. and that by n de.
clsion OF the Supreme Court of the
State, the said fixtures should be
lawfully assessed 10 the oil producer
or lessee, ON the personal property
books Of each county of the State. II
is therefore, ordered that the clerk
OF this court do procure n well bound
book for each of the two assessors
in this county. which book shall he
divided off into columns, setting forth
at the head Of each column the fol.
lowing words and figures. namely:
Name or names Of the land owners
OF each tract of land leased for OF.
and gas purposes; the owner of The
lease or leases for oil and gas p,lr.
poses on said land; the number of
acres In said land: the number of oil
wells; the number of gas wells: the
number of producing oil wells; the
number of producing gas wells; the
average daily production of the OF,
wells for the preceding year. and the
pressure of the gas. wells: the amount
OF oil produced from each lease.hold
on the first day of April, 1906; the
owner or owners of the royalty IN.
terest In each lease-hold; the valua.
lion OF the fixtures on said land: the
valuation of the lease or leases for
oil and gas on said land in addition
10 the valuation of fixtures: total
valuation thereof.
IL Is fiIrthpr ordnral ,,,,, a.,