Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-08-26
ORCHARD|STS ARE AFTER
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION
Berkeley County Horticultural Society Adopts
Strong Resolutions and Asks Removal Of MIR.
Sites and Mr.. Strong Some Interesting
Figures---Mr. Henshaws Statement

Association held largely ATTENDED
orchard meeting Thursday afternoon
at Mr.. Homer Smalls, west of town,
President Alex. Clohan presiding.
The meeting was attended by over
two-hundred people, and aside from
the natural interest that attaches to
meeting of this sort to orchardists,
this gathering was especially notable
by reason of the action taken with ref
erence TO what the association deems
the unequal and unjust tax valuations
of orchards in Berkeley county, as re-
Gently fixed by the county Board of
equalization. This opposition found
expression in the report of commit
tee previously appointed for the pur-
pose, and which report set forth at
length the grievances felt by the asso-
citation in this matter of assessments.
This was further voiced by a series of
resolutions which, like the commit
tees report, were unanimously adopt
ed.
But there were other features of the
meeting at MIR. Small's. Mr.. d. Gold
Miller gave an interesting talk on ap-
PIE aphids and some preventative rem
edies, sr-g~s u x.-
There was some discussion on the
question of freight rates on apples,
showing that there exists discrimina-
ton against this section by the rail-
roads. After some discussion conf
mittee was appointed to cooperate
with fruit growers in adjoining coun-
ties in order to get freight rates
equalized, If possible, as affect ng said
orchardists. This committee consists
of ]. M. Rothwell. E. c. Henshaw, ~
r. Frame, Gray Silver and Alex Clo-
han
Mr.. ]. r. Edmonds extended an in
vitation to the association to attend
the meeting of the Peninsular Horti-
cultural society at berlin, Md, on Au-
gust "a.
The Apple Carnival committee rec
commended the dates of September %,
29 and 80 for the 1911 exhibit in Mar
tEmsburS and it was agreed to.
Mr.. d. Gold Miller requested the Co
operation of the fruit growers in col
lecting an exhibit for the Pittsburg
Land Shows II October.
After the meeting Mr.. and Mrs.
Small served hounteous luncheon in
their yord which was highly appreciat-
ed There was plenty of choice lemon
ade. but ii was observed that some
members of the association preferred
Mr.. Small's fine cider which had a
seductive strength about it that
brought the answer, SO it had to be
handled carefully.
Report of Committee.
The committees report ON orchard
taxation, as alluded to above, is here
with published in full.
Your committee on taxation b gs
leave to report as follows:
T king the Cumberland Valley Rail-
cd Company's list OF commercial APP
PIE growers and adding those readily
called to mind, we find over 300 or
chards in Berkeley County. OF these
500 orchards about 80 or 10 per cent.
of them have been singled out and as
sessed at $3.50 to $3.50 per acre. OF
the remaining 90 per cent of the or
chards, we find but few of them as
SEES ed at more than farm values, most
Of them being omitted as orchards
fem the tax list altogether.
An examination OF the returns made
by the Board of Equalization, as sign
ed by majority of the members
thereof. shows that the board was
very partial and unfair and played fav-
orites, not only in orchard properties
but in all other kinds Of property as
well. To illustrate, we VIII first take
the property which Mr.. Jacob Sites,
the president o. the Board of Equal
zation, owns and on which he lives.
which consists of some six acres OF
land Within the corporate limits of
Martinsburg, facing the Cumberland
Valley Ra read 1t Is asses ed at
$500 per acre, or $500 fos this entire
valuable property. Adjoining and ad-
Jacent lots were a.ses ed by Mr.. Sites
from $500 to $1,000. Mr. Sites proper
NS, NSAt lOlS 10 IHe acre al 9oUV.VV IS
worth at least $2410 per acre of $14,-
400 for the tract. Mr.. Sites property
IS plated laid out in he Us and the plat
is of record in the clerks office. Just
prior to the new charter in Martins.
burg taking effect, Mr. Sites, over pro-
test of the city officials, secured from
the County Court the abandonment Of
the streets through which, when done
were fenced up by him with out pay
mat therefore, and this land in NOW in
cluded with the balance. This does not
take into consideration the orchard up
on this six acres. which if it were up
on property of others not so favored,
would be assessed from $3.50 to $3.50
per acre, or am additional $4,000 The
orchard companies in which Mr.. Sites
is interested as stockholder, are yet
assessed at the minimum price for