Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-01-11

: Ing taxation took place IN 1916. lmp1T
, tant additions were made to the dcscrip
tiOns of taxable property; exemptions wcr
restricted and defined with greater precis
ion; rules of appraisemcut were prescribe,
with a view to ensure approximation Q
valuation to val the principle OF actua
appraisement was for the first time apple,
to all objects of taxation to which, in tn
) nature Of things, it was applicable; clea
directions were given for the annual listin
and valuation of lands becoming taxable fo
the first time, Of improvements. and of al
personal property, new valuation of al
real property was directed, and provision
was made for future valuations in ever,
sixth year.
The first general valuation required b,
this act, being the fourth in the whole Sc
rics, was made in 1915. and was cqualizcj
the same year The influence of the wis,
provisions Of the new law was conspicuou.
in its results, which for the first time APP
proximatcd though still remotely, the ae
tual value of the real property In the State
The value of that description of property
as equalized, was S}24.40j, SOL
The Grand List of lS47, embracing this
equalized valuation, the spring valuation O.
personal property amounting to S S53,964,.
430, and the other usual spring valuations
exhibited an aggregate Of SIl0,763. IGO
The increase in six years had been almost
incredible. 1t was S25l. 400, SOB.
Before the time for tie second valuation
under the act of 1916 had arrived. new
Constitution had been adopted. The prin.
ciple 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
Assembl, under the New Constitution. pro-
vidcd .or a general valuation and equalizl-
ton OF real property in 1888. and every
sixth year thereafter. In pursuance Of this
act, the fifth general valuation took place
and was cqualized in 1888. The aggrc-
gate of the cqualized valuation was sos
725,542. The personal property listed the
| following spring was valued at S297.05I,-
572 The grand list for 1854, including
with these values those of the lands and
new improvements listed in the spring. was
$3.50, ,9299s2. The increase in seven years
had been again startling. 1t was $751;
l6G.S22.
The apprisIl, now more closely approach
ed the real value, AMI no su;h apparently
rapid augmentation of the list could be in
future expected
The sixth valuation took place during
the past year, under an act of the last
General Assembly, and its equalization is
not yet completed. According to the re.
turns made by the County Auditors, under
the act of April last, the aggregate number
of acres taxed is 2j,3l+25O; :h2 average
value of each acre, SI7 Is, and the total
value of the whole real property Sj4I.9IS,-
l5l. The lists of personal property inclu-
ded in the spring valuations, are not yet
made. Should they show an increase du-
ring the year proportional to that of the
real property during six years. the amount
viii not be less than S2J7 900 600; and
the general aggregate, assuming that the
total valultion OF real property. will nos be
reduced by equalization. viii be about
S3O0.000O00. The increase for SIX years
Will be about S}3 0}0O00.
The Grand List Of 1860 VIII doubtless
show, with reasonable accuracy. the true
amount Of taxable property in the Safe
Returns Of exempt lrOlerty from all tie
eonuEes, except Hamilton and Fayctte.
exhibit an aggregatc Of SI0.57O, ,S5S.-
These returns are doubtless imperfect.
The real amount OF this description of prop
erty, in all the ties, including chattels.
does not, probably, fall much short Of Sj0,-
100000 The Commissioner Of Statistics,
basiag his opinion on reports Of actual sales,
estimates the clrtire property in the State
at SL0j0O000O0.
The population Of the State Is now about
two millions and half Su-h popula-
ton, grown up from tie twenty-five thou
and of -ixty years ago, educated. energetic
and indefltigable. and possessed Of su:h
mass Of means, created by the skill and IT,
dustry or two generations. presents a strik-
ing picture Of progress and power.
| venture to suggeSt the oxpediencv Of
directing the general valuations Of real
estate, after the next, to be made on:c in
Eve years; 50 that the results obtained un-
der State authority, may he easily c9mpar-
cd with those obtained under Federal in
the census years; while those obtained bv
the general valuation in the intermediate
years. and the annual estimates. will sup
ply the means of determining the rate of
growth and progress each year during the
interval between those years.
The amount Of debts Of whatever des-
cription, State, corporate. commercial and
every ether, IS now estimated at S2IO.-
100000; but Of these not less. probably,
than one third would ne cancelled by paw
ment OF other debts embraced in the same
az Tegatc The whole existing debt. con-
sjituting ] real charge upon the whole ex-
sting pDpertj. hrrdiy, il at all. exceeIs
Si6O,OJO, 900 about one sixth Of It's value.
Ii this sum &c compared, not merely with
the entire property, bat with the entire
products Of the State, which according to
ny estimate III 1853, amounted in 1857 to
Isl, ,S67 800 and doubtless exceeded that
sum in IS5S, or with the probable net
products after deducting the consumption, !
lirect or indirect Of the people the gratif- ;
;iltiOn afforded by the spectacle of our gen.
raj prosperity, will not be sensibly abat-
i.
While this review of the progressive de-
yelOpement Of our revenue system and of
'ur material resources, must necessarily in-
'pire just confidence in thc physical ener-
gies and financial strength of our great
Commonwealth, it will also serve, | trust,
he humber purpose of contributing to a '
,learer understanding of the relations of ]
.axation and disbursement to means of con-
.ribution. and of the necessity of carefully
Observing these relations in leyics and ap-
The fundamental principle Of our revenue
;ysten, that all property not exempted up