Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-11-27


Act of 1871. Whether these resources can
be relied on, to indemnify the State ultimate
ly, against her whole. liability for this Com
pany, admits of question; but, that they will
afford the means of indemnity to very con-
siderable extent, is not doubted. These means,
however, will not he in hand, in season to
meet the more immediate calls on the Treasu-
ry, as before stated, and the scrupu!ous fideli-
ty and honor, with which North Carolina has
ever maintained her public engagements, re-
qure that ample means shall be provided in
advance, to save the public faith in any, con-
urgency. While, therefore, your efforts will
be directed to the most eligible mode of ma
king this indemnity efectual, it is indispensa-
bic that measures shall be adopted for an in
crease OF the Revenue. How this can be real
lied with the least hardship to the people, has
employed my anxious reflections, and the re-
suit is offered with tLe Difference due to the
superior wisdom of the Legislature
Our income, at present, is derived chiefly
from levies on Lands and persons These
should not be augmented, until other sources
now laid, should be faithfully paid, and pune
tually and fully exacted And independently
OF the pressing wants of the Treasury,
OF Lands, with view to greater accuracy in
the tlXatlOn of value on each tract and some
provision for more correct enlistment of Polls,
as measure of justice to the State and of e.
qualizing effect among her citizens Our Land
tax for 25 years past, has been the moderate
rate of six cents per annum on the one hun
dollars value. The habitual negligence, which
has prevailed in returning lands for taxation,
ii hair ho
from few facts in the history of the Reven-
ue. In the year 1915, the aggregate value of
the lands of the State, assessed for taxation
under the Law of Congress, was $50 1921, 5l3.
But, in the year 1886, the whole quantity of
500, 136,1OS To correct this criminal delin-
quency in enlistment and valuation, the Act
of 1886 directed a new assessment of Land
and improvements, by means of which, the
same subject of taxation in the next year was
raised in value to s51 ,O21 3l7, and $4,000
more was added to the Revenue. This va?u-
ton, however, is obviously defective, since it
falls two and half millions of dollars below
that of 1915, although more than million
and half of acres had been patented in the
mean time. 1t is reasonably estimated, that
with an area of $4,000 square miles within
|
or near twenty-nine millions of acres of terri
tory inhabited Making the utmost allowance
for lan1s not vet granted, it can hardly be pos
sible that less than twenty five millions of a.
cres are chargeable with taxes. But from a
statement Appended to the Report of the Comp
troiler, it seems that 23,267, 472 acres com
prise all, of which any returns have been re-
ce;vel, AMI that of this, the average value for
taxation is but S2,28 "a per acre, against a
Ike average of 50 50 in 1915. The act OF
1886 ronta MS no direction for new assess
ment at any subsequent time, and the va ua-
ton under it, loosely made ten years ago, is
| the criterion of our Land Revenue at present
Basiles, very considerable qualities, since en-
terrell an patented, ten years have greatly en-
| hancel the price of much of the LAM IN the
State, IN consequence OF Improvements an
discover es ma lie within that perol The e.
rectior of AIaoufartul ng EstahI shments, the
discoveries of Mines, the construction OF 25(
miles of Rail Roa !, the improvements on Rea
Estate in many of our Towns, AMI the rise II
value of Forest lands, yelling Turpent'n''
will at once occur as illustrations of this truth
to say nothing of those devoted to ordinary
culture. There may be occasional instances
of decline in value, but with the data before
US, it can hardly admit OF question, that upoF
a fair assessment OF Lands AMI improvements
the aggregate value will exceed sixty millions
of dollars AMI that from failure in duly eX
acting the present rate Of LAM tax. the State
is annually deprived of seven OF eight thou
SAN dollars, at the least calculation. Surpri'
sing as this may oppear, there seems to be E
deficit of nearly an equal amount, in the pay
ment OF the POI tax The tabular Statement
of the Comptroller, before REFERRED to, exh,b Is
for taxation the next year 6.,795 black, ant
54,226 white Pc Is, inciuling all of whom
there is any account, both listel AM unlistel
The Slave population Of the State, according
to the Census of 1910, number 245,8l7. AL
of these, between the ages of IL AMI so, are
subject to taxation: AMI by estimates from re-
liable sources, this regulation renders taxa
bic rather more than one half on each Pianta
ton A full enumeration, therefore, OF taxa
BILE Blacks, ought to embrace about 1000
Of Whites, all mails are taxable between the
ages of II ana As years. There are found OF
our Muster Rolls, the names of 1868 men
comprehending those between the ages of Il
and As generally, but not incluling numerou;
exempts under various Statutes. Making lib
eral deductions for those between Is and 81
and adding eXempts from military duty, who
are liable to taxation, and there must still re
main more than 10000 taxable white Polls
an |, consequently, total of $4,000 taxable
Polls in the State. Our Poll tax has haeI
gra lualy increasing for the last two years, and
for the past year, appears to have been coflec
tie on 164, AGA persons That it has been neg
Iigently atten lei to, is manifest from varlan
ces of from four to five hunlred dollars Pc
annum, sometimes OH one side and sometimes
on the other of the account, in the amount
collected during the last four years. 1t is
therefore, an imperative duty of the Leglsla
ture, as well, in Justice to those citizens who's
Lanls AMI Polls are fairly assessed and enlls
tel, and who are contributing a.cor hngly IN
to the Public Treasury, as to the State itself
to require new assessment OF Lan1s and 9th
er Improvements, to be Justly ma lie, on In
spection of the premises if necessary, AMI t
provide for an accurate ana full Census of al
taxable persons. No valuation of Lands ca
continue to be a Just criterion of worth for a
; ny considerable period, and re-assessmen
should be proyile1 for, once at least In fiv
wears, if it be not annual. By adopting thes
measures of fairness AMI justice, to collec
, what is now imposed, without any increase G
> taxes, it may be reasonably expected that tn
: Public Revenue from present sources. now
:, equal to about $50 5000, may be ralsel
/ 500, 900 per annum These regulations shout
be made to take effect imne lately, that tn
, Treasury may experience their benefit in til
course of the next year.
Further to augment the Revenue, it is Pre-
pose1 that a tax be imposed On Pleasure Ca
; RACES, and Cold Watches kept for use, AM