The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-06-15
HOW IT LOOKS IN SUPERIOR IN 1878,
RY T. c.


There is a decidedly hopeful side in the
depressed aspect at Superior; and the accept
ance Of the condition and prompt action in
the right direction seems to be the necessity
of the hour.
The old idea of palue in the vast extent OF
town property is exploded ten sections,
quite six thousand acres of unoccupied, as
well as never occupied or improved town lots
and blocks, have at length found their true
value in acreage; and can NJ longer be relied
upon as basis of taxation for half of an an
nual tax of $4,000 or $4,000
Fortunately at this crisis the County holds
in tax claims mere than sufficient amount
to pay off the floating debt. The former not
less than $25 200, while the latter scarcely
exceeds $4,000 or $4,000.
There is disposition on the part Of many
remaining citizens to take up and improve
the tax-title property, where it is apparent
the former owners have abandoned it, and
in cases where the tax-titles have become
indisputable.
Aad in view of a reasonable future taxa
ton, the delinquent taxpayers will, upon
reasonable terms, come forward and pay up,
on assurance that their payments will &c to
the extinguishment Of the Coating debt
The population Of ths county and the leg
itimate estimates will limit the levy of 1878
to SO moderate an amount, that no payer
will continue to repudiate
The assessment roll for 1873 will show
about 100000 acres of lands; abou. 1000
acres OF town lots or property between tie
bay and Sixth Street. the occupied portion
of the town from the wegt end Of Conner's
Point to the Nemadji River; and 5000 acres
the residue of the town pats back Of Sixth
st. and east of the river. OF the above 900
acres, eighty acres are embraced in the vii
lage, and forty the occupied suburbs.
For the purpose of taxation the current
year the l30, 900 acres may be averaged at
Sl.50 per acre. The 5000 at IS. The 1000
less the occupied l20 acres leaving $50 at an
average of the highest rate applied to bay
shore property; and the la0 acres. which
represent the resident tax payers will find
an average within the views of hard pressed
community
Hitherto about 200 so called lots on the
piers and streets es,ade- water have been tax
ed; these are no cart of the above 5000
acres, nor were they within the bounds Of the
original .. S. Surveys, and should not be en-
rolled for taxation.
Complying with the shrinkages through
out the state es well as here the total valu-
atioas will little if any exceed 1925, ,000;-
such legitimate taxation will lead the State
authorities to apportion, if not this, next
year, a more equitable share of the State tax
For the privilege of belonging to the State of
Wisconsin in 1877 we got less than $500
school and swamp lend income and paid
nearly ST. 900 state tax, being trOo dollars per
capita for our population while the State
average is toersty ceuts.
In view of the fact that the State tax for
1878 is the enormous sum of s405,000
against $26S,s75 for 1877, cur legitimate
valuation should be urgently presented to
the notice of the State authorities, and eff
feet modification; without which we will be
saddled with a State tax of three dollars for
every man woman and child in the comfy;
true nonresident tax payers will have to
bear the imposition-but the more they pay
tho worse for our reputation, fifteen dollars
per voter-cash tax, will in all probability
operate as prohibition on their part, con-
tinuation of their delinquencies. This bad
feature, if not modified, must result in de-
cided reduction of the local taxes Fortu-
nately the Board has ignored the road tax;
which by Chap. 250 laws of 1878 might have
been levied, but not later than the second
Monday in May; other not absolutely neces-
sary taxes, all questionably legal taxes and
illegal expenditures being stopt and the
county debt liquidated by its assists. our
hopeful view can be kept In sight.