In the January 10, 1918 issue of the Ridgeway Journal, readers were given information about their new obligation to pay income taxes. The income tax, dormant since after the Civil War, had been reinstated in 1913 when the 16th amendment was ratified. But until 1917, most people earned less than the standard exemption of $3000 and didn’t have to worry about filing a return. (The average American worker earned about $800 per year in 1914, which would be just under $26,000 today). With the cost of World War 1, the government needed money and lowered the standard deduction to $1000 for a single person and $2000 for a married couple. This meant most people would now have to figure how much they owed Uncle Sam and send in a payment.
To help lessen the confusion, W. A. Miner, one of the officers of the First National Bank of Ridgeway, arranged to have an income tax officer come to Ridgeway on January 18, 1918. He had “his headquarters at the First National Bank and he will be ready and willing to assist persons subject to the tax to make out their returns without cost to them for such service.” The writer of the article thought most people would appreciate the efforts of Mr. Miner “as it will give all in this vicinity a chance to interview the officer without making a trip to Bethany or Blythedale.”
