Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-03-16
Mill Point, March II, 1853.

in my late afficton in the loss of my dear son.
III. A. READ.
Mill Point, March II, 1853.
eaY- We have received II copy of the new
tax law and given it some attention. 1t is for
the most part compilation of previous enact
ments. 1t contains, however, several decided
improvements on the old law, the effect of which
will be to subject every description of property
to taxation at its true value and to give greater
confidence to The holders of tax titles.
Every person of full age and sound mind, and
every firm, body polite or corporate, is required
to furnish the supervisor of the proper township
Il statement under oath containing correct des
cripton Of all real estate, moneys, credits, and
personal property not exempt from taxation, and
not subject to a specific tax, of which he or it
is the owner or holder. 1t is made the duty of
the supervisor to furnish each taxable inhabitant
of his township with blank form for said state
ment on or before the third Monday in April,
and after the expiration of one week from that
day, and previous to the third Monday in May,
to call on all such persons, receive the statement,
examine the property and then estimate and set
down its true value, deducting the amount of
Indebtedness from the amount of the credits of
each individual. Heretofore the burden of tax
alton has been very unequaly distributed and
has in many instances borne most heavily on
those least able to support it, A large amount
of property, especially in moneys and credits,
has altogether escaped taxation, and nearly all
kinds of property have been assessed far below
the real value. Nothing can escape under the
present law. 1t will operate equally and Justly
upon all, and will create a more favorable i'm
preston abroad than has heretofore prevailed
respecting the real wealth of the State The
aggregate valuation of taxable property in Mich
igan this year will probably be at least three
times as large as for the year preceding.
1t will be satisfactory to many of our readers
to find that efectual provision has been made for
the assessment and collection of taxes in unor-
ganized territory attached to organized counties.
Northward is large extent of territory attached
to this county containing great amount Of tax
able property. The holders of this property
have hitherto managed to avoid taxation. All
efforts to establish township organizations have
been frustrated by a few individuals whose
avOwed purpose has been to get along without
paying cent to defray the expenses of the gov
eminent under which they live and the protec-
ton of which they claim. Under the new law,
the board of supervisors have power to appoint
one or more assessors for this territory, and to
apportion to the property of its assessment roll
the relative amount of State and county tax, to-
gether with the expense of assessment and COL
lection. The tax is to be collected by the sher-
if. Our next board Of supervisors will doubt
less take the ntiatory step towards rendering
this provision of the law of some account TO
the taxpayers of this county, but as there is no
meeting of the board until October we see no
chance for molesting the anti-taxpayers before
another year.
All lands returned to the Auditor General, on
which the taxes, interest and charges, shall not
be paid, or be charged back to the proper coun-
ty, shall be subject to sale at the annual tax
sales. Consequently there will be an opportu-
nifty for larger investments of money than usu-
al in tax titles next October, and these invest
ments will be more readily made, on account OF
the provisions of the new law, intended to give
ultimate security to the holder of lands sold for
taxes. Ifthe land is not redeemed, the Auditor
Generals deed shall be prima faca evidence OF
the regularity of all the proceedings from the
valuation of the land by the assessors to the
date of the deed inclusive, and Of title in the
purchaser, and every such deed when witnessed
and acknowledged in the manner prescribed by
law for witnessing and acknowledging deeds in
other cases, and after it shall have been on rec
ord five years in the office Of the Register Of
Deeds in the county in which the land is situa
ted, shall, unless it has been cancelled by the Au
dtor General pursuant to law, or annuled by
court of competent jurisdiction, be positive evi
dence that the land therein described, was BY
such deed conveyed in fee simple to the granite,
therein named, and his heirs or assigns.
Ia" We lay before our readers the naugu
raj address of President PIERCE. It is thor
oughIy American in sentiment, and declares tn,
policy of the new administration without dis
guise.