Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-02-19
in Open Letter to the People Of We1 Vnrgna
What Do You Think About the Oil and Gas Business?

the taxes paid by all of the Public Utilities
and over one-sixth of the taxes paid on all
the real and personal property Of all the
corporations andsof all the people in the State
Of West Virginia?
To give you an idea of what the oil and gas
business means to you as tax payers, we
give here some interesting data:
During the "a years. 1880 to 1919, inclusive there
were s5.46S wells completed
For each Of these there were paid to West Yrgnans
for labor, teamng. material drillers' board. rig
timbers, etc, not less than Sl.sss.
Or total of $47,e7417o.
Including 81. sos, 767 for the 5000 dry holes
For the operation Of the 28,764 productive oil and
gas wells and the caring for the product there has
been paid in West Virginia for labor, material team
ing ETC., not less than $99,O00,000.
In oil royalties West Virginia land owners have
received $s7,000,796.
In rentals on lands held for oil purposes. before
drilling the land owners have received not less than
$4,000 600.
In rentals on lands held for gas they have boon
paid $S.O4S,918
received more than $6,4264l6.
This makes a grand total Of $209,75o,s09, the
amount by which West Virginia has been enriched
by these industries during 1889 to 1919.
The amounts may thus be recapitulated:
REHABILITATION
Oil ROYALTIES NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 37,000796
Oil land rentals. ........- 10000.
Gas land rentals. ..s......... S'oaSsiS.
Drilling cost share to local interests. 47,274l79-
Maintenance cost, producing wells,
pipe hnes etc ...-............... s9'ooo'ooo.
Total benefit to West Virginia 5000, 10000.
In the above figures account is taken OF the
amount paid in taxes by these industries which
aggregates many millions.
In 1912 the oil and gas properties were valued at
$141, s55700 and the taxes paid were $946O0O.
This was an increase in valuation from 1904 of 1920
Der cent as against an increase on real estate OF
only 1865 per cent
Since 1919 the above amounts have been Of course
greatly increased that may fairly estimate that
each item could be increased say 300.
This would make the total benefit to West Virginia
in excess of $3.50 100000, above stated
Do you realize that by the oil and gas development
thousands have been added to your population,
cities and towns nave been built and large increases
have been made in other towns and cities, creating
demands for. your agricultural products food and
cothing in fact for all the necessares and Injuries
of life?
DO you know that by adding these thousands to
your population and spending these millions among
you your State has reaped far more benefit than the
oil and gas people by the amount they have made
out Of the oil and gas they have produceds
Are we not therefore, amply justified in our state
nent just made that your share Of the profits Of the
oil and gas development has been greater than our
share? M1 tse
Do you know that in the beginning natural gas
was considered Of little value, and do you realize
that today it is in demand all over the country, at
increased selling prices, but is obtained only with
increased costs?
I Do you know that the greatest question among
operators today is .Where gas be found?
and that the ceaseless work Of exploration is costing
enormo.s sums of money! Il
Il You have heard, Of course, that supplies and
material, are higher priced; that to organize and
manage company on big enough scale to go into
the gas business, as it is today, building COMPRISING
Respectfully yours,
81 The Mann