The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-12-11
Cabot's Views
OI the Tax Question.
The Calhoun Chronicle,
GAINESVILLE. w. Va,

Gentlemen.
Four years ago the oil aud ga
producers 10 Calhoun county wer'
taxed for small fraction of the &C
tual value. In the case of the Low
tner Oil Co., for instance, the taI
wap about l percent Of the offer they
Claim to have refused. Now, TIT
tax, is in many instances, greatly il
excess of the value of the pIopert,
taxed. Can we not have Il happy
mean, and tax oil and gas production
in this county, exactly in the same
proportion as other property
1t is now difficult to interest any
Body in an oil lease in Calhoun
County, or to induce anybody tc
operate it, until this uncertainty as
10 what taxes they will have to psY
N'removed. simultaneously, we see
the State Tax Commissioners trying
TO make the Baltimore & Ohio r. 4.
Co., pay taxes ON valuation eoor-
mously in excess of the actual mar
ket value, for their property in this
State.
If there ia any Slate in the UnioD
that should encourage all transpor-
iatlou facilities. whether by rail,
Steamboat or pipe line, it is the
State Of West Virginia. ] know nc
other State where are to be found on
the one hand such enormous natural
resources. and on the other, such a
comparatively small development,
nor dol know any other State in
which the surface of the country is
SO overwhelmingly billy, and there
fore, the natural difficulty of trans
pOftation so great.
This natural difficulty of trans
portation is very important factor
in delaying the development of this
State, and every possible encourage
meDt should be given 30 transporta-
tion Companies, to enable them to
overcome these natural dificslties.
Let Va by all means regulate our
railroads and other common carriers,
along tho lines 80 ably covered by
the rate law recently passed at
Washington by the support of both
political parties. Similarly, such
legislation in the State of West Vir-
ginia would be even more effective
over tho area that it covered, and
would be fully justified by the excel
emit results cbtsined in the West by
state legislation. And having thus
controlled the railroads, to compel
them to treat justly all their custom
ers, let us by all means be Just to
them and not forget the immen Sc
benefit that they are TO the commun-
ity and the sound policy Of allowing
them to obtain an ample reward for
the enterprise and risks which they
have incurred
IL is matter Of personal knowl-
edge that the taxes on productive
enterprises in Calhoun County are
FAR heavier than in Writ County, or
than in the State Of Pennsylvania,
and / know Of one gentlemen who
was thinking of es tablisbing a glass
industry IN this County, but was dis
couraged by the tendency to tax non,
residents who we're eDdeayoring to
develop the natural resources OF the
County, 80 as to throw dispropor
tionate burden and taxation OH them.
There are various railroad schemes
for running reilroad througo Cal,
houn County, all Of which are hang
ing fire at the present time, and
likely not to come TO fruition until
the present uncertainty as 70 taxa,
ton is allayed. # ID the policy of
many communities TO offer special
Inducements to outside capital, 10
exempt 10 from taxation, to give cash
bonuses etc. II has been the policy
Of Calhoun County in former years
70 do the same.
Unfortunately, at that time, bus
iness conditions prevented the fruit
ion Of the plans making for rail
road through this valley Now tbet
iho country has grown immensely iu
wealth end population, and the no
tual development of the resources Of
Calhoun County has begun on
Considerable scale, the general inter
csis Of all classes Of citizens will best
R3 advanced by encouraging this
fayo o.rr, onf ia cr,or., -<,.,.-..t d..