Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-08-28
From Our Own Reporter.
State Equaiizlng Board.
THIRD pAY.-MORNING SESSION
Mo..-,r,,r, Thursday Aug. 20.

MONTPELIER, Inursuhy, aug ~
The board assembled at 9 O'Clock. ;.
Mr.. Abel, of Rutland county, Thought
some representations should be mace In re-
ference tc tie various towns OF his county
Rutland county is appraised at an increase.
Most of its people had suffered from the
hard times. The county IS not as II was
four years ago. Some individuals may pe
better off, but the county was not. Many
towns have decreased in value, BUT nut
land town is about the same as four
wears ago. the largest town in the county.
and the second in the State. The kut-
land Railroad Is in different hands, thus
withdrawing some of its benefits. Inc
Rutland figures are actually higher
in proportion to value, than IN 1870. In
other towns the value Of real estate had de-
preciat ed There are good lands on the
Otter Creek but it is of not great width.
The lands back toward the mountains are
of no great value, while the lands between
the mountains and the lake are OF average
value Much of the land east of Brandon
was rough and barren. and would not com
marc well with other mountain towns north.
A good deal of the land was perpendicular.
The rule adopted in reference to one
county should govern in the case oil
Others.
Mr.. Parks. fIom the committee on the au-
thority of this Board to correct errors ID
appraisals, reported that they were OF the
opinion that individual members oil the
Board have full power to correct errors ex-
isting in the valuation Of the real estate In
the several towns Of the respective counties,
as reported by the county equalization con
ycntion, subject to the action Oh thi9
| Board.
Mr.. Lynde moved that the appraisal as
presented BY the county equalization con-
vcntion of Rutland county be adopted, as
| the valuation of real estate IN Rutland
county for the next four years and that It
| adopt the Rutland returns n the standard
Of future action.
| Mr.. Waterman considered the motion
premature. lie hoped for discussion before
adopting the standard. lie Thought tue
| stands I'd should be the real cash value.
Mir. Lvnde said the motion was made Tor
this purpose.
The motion was put and carried.
Mr.. Solace presented the appraisal Tor
Addison county He explained that SIX OF
their towns lay among the Green Noun
| tains. and their appraisal was less than -
| per acre but the lake towns bring up the
! average. Their first class was small IN
| comparison with their second. Some Of
/ their lake towns formerly had hotels. where
/ to-day they have none. Boats used TO lana
at their shores, and now do not. lie
! Thought there should he no alteration IN the
returns a. presented, and moved their adop-
ton.
Mr.. Waterman was not prepared to vote
on the question now. Addison county con-
tanned the best farming lands in the State,
| and ne did not know the basis OF their APP
prai>al He wished to make further IN
! vc-tigatiln. Addison and Chlttenden coun-
ties had been compared, and the cause Oh
complaint on the part Of the latter had been
stated lie wanted everything brought be-
fore the 4 ard that would bear on the
/ question
Mr.. Sollacc did not know much about
| Chittenden county Ferri,blrgh, lying
near Chittenden county, was appraised at
Il per acre. lie did not believe IN raising
the appraisal To- tie cash value OF the land
/ If desired. per cent on all lands IN the
State could be added when the apprai>als
have been equali1ei
Mr.. I.yndc thought they should take into
consideration the matter OF personal prop
erty. Of which az present not % per cent
paws taxes, whereas all real estate does pay
taxes. One class should have no advantage
over another We should equalize these APP
praisals at their lowest figure, and the way
to get at it. Is to find out what the land
would sell for at auction. Real estate IN
Vermont is appraised . per cent more than
il. market value, while 1t should be ap-
praised a. low a. possible. This l. brought
about by the listers 10 please owners And
listers. when asked to sweartto the correct
ness of their appraisals. suddenly find them
selves possessed OF conscience, and refuse
to sanction their own labJrs.
Nh Keith agreed in substance with Nj.
Lynde. Whether the appraisIls are low OF
high. the basis i not correct ono. lie
thought the general valuation in the main
hish enough. and about where it ought 10
be.
Mr.. Dwlneu was not prepared 10 vote
/ without more Information and called On Mr..
Abel. Of Rutland county
Mr.. Abel thought the lands Of Addison
county very good on the lake slope, while
tie tack towns were not 30 good. It.
/ mountain land was a. poor a. any IN the
State. The railroad might benefit il some.
manufacture were small and what II had
rot q source Of mucn profit. 1t was cx-
clu,iyelv an agricultural county.
Mr. Waterman. being one of the listers Of
his county. replied To some Of the state
ment~ made by Mr.. Lynde. and did not ac-
ceut his representation a. fitting him.
Mr.. I.ynde desired to apologize ii
he had hurt Mr.. ". : feelings His remark
was not intended tor any one present.
Mr.. Abel made statement in regard to
the higher valuation of the towns Of Rut-
land county as compared with the aijoin-
Ing towns in Addison county.
Mr.. Gilctt. of Chittenien county. said he
was not very well acquainted with Aiii-
son county. especially with lake towns.
The lake towns stand nearly equal u the
lake towns u Chitfenicn. The mountain
town. oc Chittcnden were les valuable
than those Of Addison. The timber had
been taken from some of them 20 years ago.
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