Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04

| fhua, In i6a0, tha SaluAuaa permanently
settled by the Board Of Equalization, With the
Valuations, IN the aprng Of lands recently be-
come taxable, Of new improvements, and OF
| personality, constituted the first Grand List un-
der the act, upon which were 10 be assessed
the necessary levies for State, county and town
ship purposes. The value OF lands was SSa-
| 729, I, the value Of town lots and personal
property was Sis,746,096. The total valua-
ton was G5s, ,474,5 ,507 s 5.a.lf "a lail.4l
/ Important changes In the laws relating TO tax
/ alton were introducedin 1881 An act OF that
year enlarged very considerably the descrip-
| tions Of taxable property; reduced the list Of
exemptions, and extended the application Of
| the principle Of appraisment and .proportioned
contribution. II did not disturb, however, the
valuation Of real property equalized in ls25,and
Il still retained, In some Of It's applications, the
principle Of arbitrary valuation by the legisla-
| ture. 1'toH htb H.I 'aa. -atlaas
AT length, after lapse Of nine years, reyal
uation Of all real property was directed by the
legislature In 1884; was made the same year,
and was equalized In 1885. The property re-
valued consisted Of the descriptions made taxa
Bile by the act of 1881; for the act directing
the revolution had made no change in the sub
jects Of taxation. .-i- t.tf --'..... Z.
The result exhibited striking Increase, The
equalized value Of the lands and town lots was
S7S;9S2, ,6e2. The Grand List of 1885, embrace
ing this valuation, increased by the usual spring
Valuations amounting, exclusive Of four coun-
ties, whose returns had not been received, to
S95, ,297, ,396. In nine years the value of taxa.
BILE property had increased S87, ,452,s s8r
A third valuation was made ip lS40, and was
equalized In l64l. The subjects Of valuation
were still defined by the act 1881. The equal
lied valuation was S99,l54,745 The Grand
List for ls4l, embracing this valuation and the
additions for real estate and personal property,
made in the spring Of that year, was l2S, $685.
657. The increase in five years had been S32,-
42B, ,26l. A
A thorough revision OF the laws concerning
| taxation took place in lS46 Important addi-
tiOns were made to the descriptions Of taxable
property; exemptions were restricted and de
| fined with greater precision; rules Of aPprase-
ment were prescribed with a view to ensure a
closer approximation ofvaluation to value; the
principle of actual appraisenent was for the
first ii ne applied TO all objects OF taxation to
| which, in the nature Of things it was applicable
clear directions were given for the annual list
| ing and valu ton Of lands becoming taxable for
the first time, Of improvements, and Of all per.
sonal properly, a new valuation of all real
property was directed, and provision was made
for future valuations in every sixth year
The fret general valuation required by this
/
made in 1916, and was equalized the same year
The influence OF the wise provisions of the new
law was conspicuous in its results, which for
the first tins spproximated, though still remo>
teIy, the actual value of the real property in
the State. The value Of that description of
property, as equalized, was 1924 405,S04.
The Grand List Of lS47, embracing this
equalized valuation, the spring valuation of
personal property amounting to Ss3, 1854, ,43O,
and tue other usual spring valuations, exhibited
an aggregate of S4l0, 1853 l60. The increase in
six years bad been almost incredible. 1t was
! S29l ,409 503. .t. =. .. ~
Before the time for the second valuation un
der the act of 1916 had arrived, new Constitu-
tion had been adopted. The principle Of that
act, extended in its application to all property
whatever, with some specific exemptions, was
now incorporated into the fundamental law;
and the first General Assembly under the new
Constitution, provided for a general valuation
and equalization of real property ia 1853, and
every sixth year therea ter. In pursuance OF
this act, the fifth general valuation took place
and was Cquslized in 1853. The aggregate OF
the equalized valuation was S55s, ,725, ,542 The
personal property listed the following spring
was valued at S297, ,06I 572. The Grand List
for 1854, including with these values those oil
the lands and new improvements listed in the
spring, was $s66 .929,992. The increase in
seven years had been again startling 1t was
S456, l66, ,S22.
The appraised now more closely approached
the real value, and no such apparently rapit
augmentation of the list could be in future ex
pected. nE lst n ...s
The sixth valuation took place during the
past year, under an act of the last General As
sembly, and its equalization is not yet compile
ted According to the returns made by the
I County Auditors, under the act of April last
the aggregate number of acres taxed is 25, 5,3l4,'
$50; the average value of each acre, SIT 49
and the total value of the whole real property
$64I 9lS, Isl. The lists of personal property
/ included in the spring valuations, are not ye
j made. Should they show an increase during
{ the year proportioned to that of the real prop
erty during six years. the amount will not b,
less than $257- 900 900; and the general aggre
gate, assuming that the total valuation of Tea
property will not be reduced by equalization
will be about 5000, ,OOO, 600. The increase TO
six years will be about S33, ,000,0 ,000.
The Grand List of 1860 will doubtless show
With reasonable accuracy, the true amount o
a taxable property in the State. Returns of ex
: empt property from all the counties, excep
Hamilton aud Fayette, exhibit an aggregate 0
; SO, $40 s5s. These returns are doubtless i'm
. perfect The real amount of this description O
property, in all the counties. including chattel'
! does not. probably, fall much short of $50 600
. 00O The Commissioner Of Statistics, basin
his opinion on reports of actual sales, estimate
the entire property in the State at 81 ,050, 900
. 900 ..a,.a ~ s,a H..gtI1|
. The population of the State is now abou
q two millions and half. Such populatiot
. grown up from the twenty. five thousand of sxt
years ago, educated, energetic and indefatigabl'
. and possessed of such mass of means, create
I by the skill and industry of two generations
n presents striking picture of progress an
i power .l
5 1 venture to suggest the expedieney of
: rectinR the general valuations of real estat,
r after the next, to be made once in five Yearl
y so that the results obtained under State author
Il ity, may be easily compared with those obtair
J, ed under Federal in the census years; Will
a those obtained by the general valuation in tl
r intermediate years, and the annual estimates
e will supply the means of determining the rate
Il growth and progress each year during the II
II terval between those years.
The amount Of debts, of whatever descriI
J. ton, State, corporate, commercial and ever
j, other, is now estimated at S24O 100000; butt
II thesellot less, probably, than one third would
n cancelled by payment of other debts embrace
N in the same aggregate. The whole exishn
n debt, constituting a real charge upon the who
existing property, hardly, If at all, exceeI
= $3.50 900 600; about Que sixth Of ts value.
:, this sum be compared, not merely with the el
I. tire property, but with the entire products
:, the State, which according TO my estimate
u 1858, amounted in 1857 to S26l, ,s67 500, al
doubtless exceeded that sum in 1869, or wi
u the probable net products after deducting Il
70 consumption, direct and indirect, Of the peopl
70 tho qualification afforded by the spectacle
A. ! our general prosperity, win not be sensib