Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-11
pOARn a. ASsESSnpS

The most important proceedings which
have lately taken place in this Board
(Which Is still in session in this City,) are
the fol!owing-w hicb were had oil Thurs
day aud Saturday last.
On Thursday, Mr.. Bale, seconded by
MIR. Mcdowell. submitted the following
preamble and resolution for the consltle
ration of The board
The board having now performed that part
of their duty which consisted in cnmpariH.
the counties and parts of counties with each
other. and having adopted resolution which
has for its object a comparison ot the districts
of the state with each other submit the follow
ing views as Tie reasons which have induced
them TO believe that there IS just cause for
comparing and eqnali2Ing the district assess
nentS of the state.
That in a country where land Is so plenty in
proportion to lis population aud when the
profits derived from its cultivation depend
not much upon home consumption as TO-
reign demand, the value of lands ought not to
be estimated so much by the quantity of its
productions for the subsistence OF its occu-
pants, as by the quantity of its prOduc tons
together with the facilities for their rauspOr
iation to a foreign market. That upon COM
paratiVe view of the valuations of the lands
throughout the state we find those IN the cen-
tTdl aud western, TO he valued much hi her
than those in the eastern part OF the state Ofthe
| same fertility
That therefore. there is an inequality in the
assessments, which ought 10 be corrected.
Aud if we are ROT tied down rs the rigid
rules OF selliHg price, OF can shew HAT The
! valuations as regards selling price have not
| beeu cOrfecty made, or that the valuations
| have been Influenced by transient or accident
| al cauSes. there will be good reason to attempt
| au equalization of the assessments upon the
| same principles that governed us in Tie COM
| parsons aud organizations Of tie counties AID
| parts OF counties, with each other
| hat the assessments having been made
! through the commonwealth soon after tie
| close of the late war with Great Britain, The
| incuTsOnS and derredaiOus Of the enemy
| throughout the whole maritime parts OF the
| State had given an insecurity 10 property
1 there, and consequent depTessiount Or Price,
| which cannot be supposed to crhtinue ~ or
| binary times
| That Immediately upon the restoration Of
| peace, the eastern parts OF the State, being
| alike the depository both of the imported arti
| Cles from Europe and the productions Of the soil
| Of the upper country, became the seat Of an i'm.
! mense commerce consequently the greaterpdt
| of the mouied and dSpOsabie capital Of this pOr-
| ton of the country was used for the purpose OF
! trade aud speculatiOn-the lover country un.
! able to greW 10 any great extent those article
| which were most ~ demand in the foreign
| market, TO vii : wheat aud tobacco. did not
| ruter into that agricultural competition, which
| extended Itself iu the uppeT country to almost
| the entire Investment Of its money dnd labor
| ln HE purchase and cultivation OF lands.
| 10 th,s statement Is correct, the just infer
! ,rCe would bc that peculiar conc uttence o.
| .ifcumstauces, (which ave no longer in exist
erce and which cannot he supposed To con
inue loug al auS ,ueJ have bad au efiect boil
| 100 ~ preciate the sale of land in Use lower dis
| vet, aud "a the same time Co enhance its ga
iue 10 the upper dstriets-~and hat the vaiuu