The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-11-14
THE wonK OF THE EaUALrzrRg.

Inc lasJ Legislature passed q law
creating Board Of Equalization to
whom should be annually submitted
the various assessment rolls of the
counties for inspection and equaliza-
tion. The law specified that the
Board should be elected by the Leg
islature in joint convention; but as the
Legislature creating the law adjourn
ed without going into joint conven.
tion His Excellency, the Governor,
filled the Board by appointment
Hons. Jno. Whiteaker, Geo. L. Curry
and N. II. Gates were first appointed,
but shortly after the organization of
the Board Mr.. Whitaker resigned,
and the Governor appointed Hon. w.
F. Alexander, of this county, to fill
the vacancy. Thus much in explana-
tion of the origin and history OF the
State Board Of Equalization.
| That body has just completed its
labors for this year and made its re-
port. The report is. voluminous,
and we have received it too late for
publication in full this week. Follow
ing, however, are the most prominent
and noteworthy points in the report :
The assessable property of the
State for the present year was return
ed at $75,6S2,691. Deducting Indebt-
edness and exemption amounting to
S1e,982, ,532, the total taxable proper
ty amounted to S40,700,150. The re-
suit of the equalization Increases this
sum to $45, 5,68S,924 "a.
The assessments Of Agricultural
lands generally, with the exception OF
five counties, were so palpably below
the actual cash valuation as to make
an equalization, by an additional per
centage on the gross assessment, q
matter Of the sheerest justice. SO
imperfect and unfair have been some
Of the assessments, that lands for
which 500 per acre have been offered
and declined, have been assessed at
So per acre, and in no county in the
Willamette Valley, excepting Multi
nomah County, have the agricultural
lands been assessed at any figures ap-
proximating a cash value.
Following is brief summary of
the lengthy tabular statement accom-
the report: i
Exhibit "a" is a table of the acre
age, average value per acre, and gross
value of land, exclusive of grants to
in each county OF the
State, and per cent. of increase
lfter equalization. 1t shows an az.
yregate of 3,4s9,394 acres, and the
assessed value of $19,010,5O8, with
he value as equalized of S22,220,3 1881
70.
Exhibit "B" iSa table OF the num-
'er and gross ana average value of
took in each county of the State, and
er cent. of Increase after equalization.
t gives G5,789 horses; assessed value,
2,589, ,617; equalized value, S3,0S0,-
27; cattle, 233,l32; assessed value,
3,41e,946; equalized value, $3,7S3,-
81; sheep, 38S,241; assessed value,
$685. ,461; eqnalized value, 1,04l, ,199;
wine, 1884; assessed value, $l45,.
Al; equalized value, $212,354.
Exhibit &c" is table of the proper
of corporations, showing descrip-
on of property owned by each com.
any, the assessed value thereof, the
er centage added or deducted, and
ie eqnaized value. The exhibit
ives 4273 miles of telegraph line; as
,ssed value, S27 $3.50; equalized value,
1880; 257t miles Of railroad equal
ed at $5,S03 SS34 per mile, or 81
)450O; 1854 acres of land of Eu.
'pean and Oregon Land Company; I
isessed value, Sl46,69S 93; equalized
llue, $268,l21 40; 494,562 acres Of
nds Of wagon road companies; as
'ssed value, $3G5,4G1; equalized i
llue, $477,925. ,
In this county, as well as in Benton,
e hear OF great deal of dissatisfac-
on at the action of the Board, and {
many cases the most indignant pro- I
SITS are openly uttered, some going
far as TO pledge themselves to
and lawsuit rather than pay the
xes under the advanced valuation I
the State Equalization. I
1t may bo presumed that in many
ses condemnation of the Board has t
zen uttered without due reflection or G
full knowledge OF the circumstances fl
: which they were guided in their |
tion, &
In this county tho increase in the |
sessment, having been made after h
Q County Board made the tax levy S
r the year, will undoubtedly ooca- /
IN much dissatisfaction, as it makes c
o taxes much higher than they have d
er been before and raises a revenue Il
lich is not needed for the ordinary h
penses Of the county. The increase ei
agricultural lands, on cattle, hogs h
d sheep, may be just, but the sud I
n advance upon the assessments N
rotofore made has shocked tho peo- 3,
, into q state of feeling which will a,
luwe fuller explanations to allay Il
an we are at present ablo to give.
We shall next week publish the ro. n,
rt of the Board in full, Il is an Of
10 document and will undoubtedly ic