The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-10-07
PROPOSED DOUBLE TAX
ON NATURAL Gas WRONG

5
1--WE should make the gentlemen own
! ling plants and factories In an
Iaronnd Wheeling dismantle and re
almove them to Clarksburg in order /,
-tconsunie the gas found here. w
llwould thereby be enabled to goug-
them for q little taxes. But we over
look the counter burdens. AL
\ IWheeling might move down here
land who among us would be Willing
tito have the limpid streams tina
Thread our beautiful valleys polluted
!. lby the dirt OF the River Front. " oui
| |yerdant upland And hills soiles
! with the SCOT and smoke OF Ben.
! wood. and our pure public ideal.
Tainted with the political method,
land morals of Wheeling politicians.
To destroy commerce between the
states even in natural gas is moi
within the realm OF the possible, MOI
Ills 1t desirable. II 1t could be done
1T would destroysthe value OF all gas
properties to very great extent. /!
the consumption OF gas were confin-
led to the state 1t would not be neces-
|sary to drill another gas we'll in the
next thirty years. At least three
fourths of the wells now drilled
could he abandoned and the remain
lder would furnish an abundant sup
tply, We're the consumption OF gas
ltrebled. The gas companies are
uow paying annual rentals upon APP
lproximately two million acres of land
lin the state. and spending many
Thousands and even millions OF dol
lars in drilling gas wells and build.
ing lines and mains. All these ex-
penditures would be stopped, the
value OF the leases reduced to almost
nothing, nine-tenths OF the vast
acreage surrendered and tens of
thousands of farmers who are in re-
Icepit OF incomes from this source
would be deprived of what is Justly
theirs. and would wait lifetime in
vain for the development of their
farms. for which they are now clam
ioring, by drilling wells, II the mar.
ket for gas without the state should.
fbe cut of.
Conflscation.
Nor is 1t at all necessary to lay a
special and unjust burden upon
those engaged in producing natural
gas. They are neither better nor
worse than other people engaged in
other lines of business. They are
not entitled to favoritlsm nor do
they merit punishment In the mattor
of taxation. There can be no valid
reasons given for discrimination
against them. The Governor Of the
State claims for This policy" that
this tax will raise sufficient funds to
run the state government, and that
all other property can therefore es-
cape taxation for state purposes.
The Wheeling Intelligencer re-
Gently contained an editorial state
ment to the effect that no objection
could be urged to this program OF
the Governor, that was not the re-
suit Of selfishness. The statement
was made seriously and not as an at
tempt at humor. OF course the few
men who have invested their money
!, in gas properties are selfish to the
point OF meanness II they complain
of proposition that would burden
them with all state taxes to the re-
ilief of all other people in the state!
The selfish brutes! The Intelligent
Ger ought to chastise them for such
a lack of public spirit. Every man
in the state who is sufficiently dis
honest to desire to avoid the pay
meme OF his fair snare OF taxes 70
support the government. the benefits
of which he is the recipient, ought
Ito be and no doubt is. in favor of
1.-THE Governors program to make the
other fellow pay his taxes for him.
lNo one not in this class can afford
ito champion 1t.
i II the selfishness disclosed by op-
position to this pet vote getter" OF
the Governor, means that the person
SO opposing 1t is interested in pro-
Iducing natural gas, then hasten to
plead guilty. A number of COM
,,panies have entered this business in
ia small way, and the wySer and a
large number Of his frineds, have
Invested all the money they could
earn or borrow in these enterprises