The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-11-22
RECORD OF SINGLE
TAX IN VANCOUVER
Mill Rate Has Remained the Same
Although improvements
Are Now Exempted

The statement recently has been
made in Vancouver, B. c., that the
building records for the year are like
ly to total as much or more than
those of Victoria, Seattle, Tacoma
and Spokane combined. This is near
iy the case at the present time. but it
tain permits for big improvements
will be taken out before the end Of
next month which will fully establish
the truth of this assertion.
Whether this be accurate or not,
enough has been published upon the
matter to show that Vancouver has
had most phenomenal growth in
this regard. This is all the more re-
markable when it is remembered that
in the compiling Of these figures out
lying portions of Vancouver are not
included. Vancouver proper has an
area of under 10 square miles, while
tacoma's area is over 40 square miles.
This increase has been from a little
over 100000 in 1902 to over 3d.
$4,000 for the first nine months Of
1911. A recent writer, Walter A.
Hillman, commenting on the causes,
says:
Wholly on Land
Vancouver, like most of the mu-
inequalities adjacent to it, does not
tax improvements. the total levy be-
ing made upon land values. The ex-
empting of improvements was &C
complished gradually From 1895 to
1905 they we're taxed at only SO per
cent of their value, from 1906 to
1909 at rs per cent, while since 1909
all improvements have been exempt
1t has not caused any increase in the
rate, which remains at 20 mills on
the dollar.
This system of taxation has an
important bearing upon the circum-
stances of manufacturers, since it ex-
empts absolutely all their buildings,
plants, tools, ETC., and as compared
with the situation existing in most
cities it constitutes an inducement to
locate in Vancouver that is bound to
have a beneficial influence upon the
industrial development of the city.
The immediate effect has been to
stimulate building operations, and to
cause a marked improvement in the
size and quality of the building erect
ed since the regulation came into
force.
Attracts Attention
1.-THE first city approaching metro
politan proportions that has essayed,
even in a moderate degree, to bring
into operation the single-tax princi-
pie of exempting improvements from
taxa ton is Vancouver. This city,
with a population now of consider
ably more than 10000, and an area
of approximately 10 square miles,
exclusive of waterways and it's large
natural park, has been attracting at
tention of cities, governing bodice,
publicity organizations and econo-
mists almost the world over and the
press of the American continent has
evinced keen interest in what was at
first termed the Vancouver expert
ment,' but which has now been con-
clusively proved q decidedly success
full innovation.
Collect Income Tax
MANY of the inQuirers who have
written requesting information anant
the Vancouver system of taxation
could not understand the distinction
civic and provincial taxes. Personal
and income taxes and poll tax are
collected by the government. a return
in some measure being made to the
city in the shape of grants for schools,
parks and other special purposes.
Pavements, cement sidewalks and
improvements of a similar nature are
CARRIED on under the initiative local
Improvement principle, property own
ers paying the major portion of the
cost and the city paying for street in
tersections, etc.
THAT the step has been attended
with distinct and unqualified success
is an indisputable fact in the face of
the comparative figures of the build
ing permits, both in number and val
ue, issued during the year 1910, the
year preceding, and previous years,
the aggregate for 1910 breaking all
previous records in that respect"