Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-12-22
WEST VIRGINIA
MORE ABOUT ITS GREAT DE-
VELOPMENT.
What the C. T. O. is Doing to Further II.
Effect OF the Land Assessment-ih ne
Rand Transit or Town Building,
Etc, Etc, Etc.
Continued from last week.
BY A. s. MORTON.

- ~. ~.
The new assessment of lands anC
other property in West Virginia has
been the cause of much unfavOrablt
comment throughout the state, in fact
there are many who vehemently de
nounce the act both from n political
and Industrial point of view-holdine
that the greatly increased tax values
| especially those arbitrarily laid upon
unimprOved lands, tends to retard de-
veloprnent and drive capital out of the
State. This | have not found to be
the case, as far As my limited Obser-
walton goes, in fact the contrary esult
seems in process of evolution. Prop
critics that have heretofore lain in
idleness must get to work, and be ear
ming something. Owners who have
been holding valuable but unimprOved
coal and timber lands must now de-
velOp them or sell to those who will.
This has forced hitherto unpurchas-
able property upon the market and
there is much buying and selling; not
so mush for spec ulative purposes, as
for active and Immediate development.
A case in point is that of a lumberman
owning large tract of valuable tim
Der on two sides of a ridge, the one
side is in Highland county, Va, the
other ia PocahOntas county, W. Va.
The tax in both states was but % cents
per acre. and as the timber was increas-
ing in value he was holding at prOhi-
bitive figures. But the West Virginia
assessor heard of the price he asked,
and promptly raised the valuation to a
tax basis of SIS 90 per acre-this was an
increase of 202 hundred per cent, and
raised his tax ON 1000 acres from $500
to $4,000. This sent him speedily into
the market where buyers were plenty.
His case is that of hundreds of others,
for the assessors have their eyes wide
open and are appralsing unimproved
lands at the figures asked by owners.
And so it is throughout the mineral
and timber districts-those who are
operating their properties can afford
the new taxation but idle holders can
not. 1t is, therefore, readily seen that
unemployed resources are everywhere
coming into active hands and are
such an era of develop
ment as the state has never before en-
joyed.
The rural districts everywhere are
live with the hum of industry and the
smaller towns have fastened into com
Importance. In addition to
those have already mentioned in these
letters, Marlinton, the comfy seat Of
county is another of the
surprises to be accounted for in the |
era of West Virginia prosperity.
MARLINTON-PAST AND PRESENT.
When l first saw the place shortly af-
Ter the advent of the g. & o. Railway,
[ was pleased with the town, but must |
confess ] did.not share to the same ex |
tent the confidence and enthusiasm OF
is citizens, in the bright future of it. |
Theirs was not only a confid-
,nce in present conditions. but they |
we're strong in an abiding faith for
the greater future. faith with works
that always accomplishes something.
And so they builded their town till the
big fire came and destroyed it. Then |
they rebuilded it, better and safer than |
are still building it. Their
business houses are large and well
stocked, their public buildings are |
handsome and their leading financial
institution, the Bank of Marlinton car
ries line of deposits amounting to
$3.50, 100000. This is unusual for town |
of its size. The First National has
also done good business and is now
occ upying a handsome new building
of its own.
The United States Leather Trust too
has helped greatly in the building, for
besides the buildings of its enormous
tanning plant, there are many houses
for it's workmen. | have no
where seen such enormous quantities
of raw material as are found stacked on
their yards-more tons of bark by
thousands and the works doing q larg-
er gene raj business than their manager
is willing to discuss. The Z. u .. road
has also developed here large lumber
trade, in evidence of which there are
hundreds of thousands of feet of sawed
timber stacked on the yards await
ing shipment.
Another industry and possibly as i'm
portant to MarlintOn as any, is the
great saw-mill plant of the Campbell
Lumber Co. This company is located up
the river within sight of the town and is
employing large force of workmen,
both at the mills and in the forest. They
have constructed steel railroad
bridge across the Greenbrier and some
miles of standard gauge track through
their timber lands.
With these evidences of thrift. both
present and prospective, the Marlin
tonlans are content and busy-but just
now there Is Gee under their bonnets
and the buzzing among them indicates
it's railroad to be. This | take it is
not merely talk, but a real prospect
with ample reason behind it. With
| two railroads Marlinton would soon be
the most important town in that sec