The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-05


tho Same tho jobbcrs have had more
This simply means that Richmond has
extended its TRADE territory. We have
been selling goods this year in
larger territory than we have ever sold
in before"
These views were corroborated by
dozen other wholesalers In various
lines. and also by the manufacturers
What Makes Land Valuable:
The editor of the Views and Near
Views column has from George e.
Wray, OF Pilkinton. PowhnIan County.
tho following. which, MS = suggestion.
seems TO he worth it's space:
What makes our lands In old Nir-
ginia so very valuable? Tho answer
to this should not be hard to find: yet
1t is altogether lost sight Of The
presence of people Is the sole cause
of the difference in price between an
acre of land In the heart Of Richmond
and an acre on the western side OF
Chesterfield County. For productive
purposes, the last named may be
worth more than an acre on the Capt.
toll Hill. Is II grea. stretch from
the cause OF values 10 the ownership
OF values? Those who make values
should have ut least some little con-
sideratton In tho distribution OF
values. Here's case In point: On Fifth
Avenue. New York. hetwcen Twenty
fourth and Twenty-thlrd, facing Mad
i.on Square. is an acre Of land sold
In 1910 for n mess of potage--a string
OF beads. In 1s4T IL was sold for $4,000.
Why7 Because there were more pco-
ple around that acre In 1sfI than In
1910. The people created the value.
Mr.. Emo erected a hotel on part OF
the land and. after his death III i2oo.
IL was sold for 81 1925. 900. Why Be
cause the population Increased. And
all the land OF Manhattan is worth
what It is solely because there are so
many millions of people there. If
there were fewer millions Of people
In New York tho land would be worth
fewer billions.
It has been estimated that the cap
ftalized value of New Yorls's inhabi
tants is $4,000. 100000. This IS about
half the market value of the land in
Greater New York. exclusive of Build
ings OF the surplus earning capa-
city of tho people and above the cost
of the necessary food and clothing Of
the people. two-ffths goes for land
rent-that Is for tho bare privilege, OF
living In Greater New York.
In 1907 the portion Of the aero sold
In 1900 for si,33c5.o 600 SOLD for s7.25o.-
900. why? still more people. that's
all AS the population increases. the
percentaEc IF rent TO the total earn
ings Increases. Increased wages
neans increased rent every tune.
And yet &c go on taxing labor and
industry. while II is much simpler TO
tax all wealth ut Its source-,he land
We encourage the establishment of
factory In Richmond. or anywhere
else, by Offering free sites and ex
nmption from taxation for period OF
years This Is considered good policy
in building up a great city. Why not
exempt all industry from taxation.
following the lead OF Houston. Texas
and conlne taxation efforts 10 that
which cannot be hidden or stored
away or sent TO other States-thc land
itself7
Tho prediction which present facts
imply Is self-cvident The economic
results are becoming apparent. The
high rents OF which the people Of
more and moro every year are due to
economic causes as inexorable in their
working as the law OF gravity
ID, II Now, That TX. To-day.
The following from the Manufac-
turerr Record is a little long, and It
may be trife tiresoine to read II.
but think 1t has within its length
and iresomnness a grest deal OF sug-
Eestpn and numerous hints that Rich
lnonl and Virginia people may sell
catch on TO. Anyhow read 1t. IL is
worth while:
Building material Is low. labor is
abundant and eager for work. arch
iteets and contra ctors have more tino
nov to plan and carry out contracts
thin in periods OF activity. Lumber
Is cheap. machinery builders are anx-
iouB for orders pig-iron is much low
or IN price than II ought 70 be to
yield fair profit TO the producers. and