Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-26
TAXABLE PROPERTY.

1AAAOAH 1lOl IxU4 lie
Which the Tax Eaters Have Commonage
-Undervalu ations-The Differences Be-
tween the Assessors and the Equalixers.
The tabular statements of assessed and
equalized valuations, by counties, have been
prepared for the State auditors annual re-
port, and the footings of the same, as given
below, present some interesting facts and
some queer results. The total valuation, as
fixed by the State board of equalization, of
real and personal property 10 $268, 1898, 037
equal to an average of about $3.50 for
each inhabitant of the State or about ST.
800 for each family, showing pretty rich
commonwealth, for 30 new q one, and pref
ty large common for the tax layers and tax
eaters to pasture on. But this does not include
all the property in the State. Besides
the large amount Of pub
lilo school and church property
the railway property is also excluded from
the returns of assessments. The railways
pay heavy tax on gross earnings in lieu of
direct taxes on the property and public
school and church property is exempt from
any form of taxation. Then the taxable
property will appear curiously undervalued
when We consider the requirement of the
law that the assessment shall give the full
value. The county boards of equalization
raised the assessors estimates of real property
about ten per cent, and the State board of
equalization raised the estimates of the
county boards about eight per cent, but at
the last farming lands, improved and unim-
proved, average only $7.79 per acre, which
is not up to the average selling value of the
improved lands which are subject to taxa
ton. The assessors estimates of personal
property were advanced about five per cent.
by the county boards, and the estimates of
the latter were advanced about six per cent.
by the State board; but at last the
valuations are still SO low that
almost any tax payer would be
happy to have money to invest and be able
to duplicate his property at the assessed
valuation. What chances of speculation
there would be if the property could be
at the assessed figures How the horse deal
ers would take in the colts at $30.28 and the
horses at $64.42! How the drovers and
butchers would 60 for the cattle at $6.18,
$500 and $1789, to say nothing of the
hogs at 1922! Then there are watches and
clocks, averaged at $5.49. Why, that's
worse than "mine uncle" of the three balls
would do! And what has become of the
plate so generously given at weddings. and
on anniversaries and holidays, that the
value of all there is in the State barely ex-
ceeds the plate and plated were sales of one
year of one st. Paul firm! Aud are our fine
ladies wearing pinchbeok, and our sporting
men, railroad conductors and hackmen, all
making false pretenses, that there is in the
whole great State only $52.715 worth of
diamonds and jewelry? Had We not better,
for the honor of the State, import and support
two or three minstrel bands, SO as to make a
decent showing in the returns of diamonds?
All, here's chance for speculation, if one
could only buy all the goods and merchan-
disc in the State for the $8,819, 1894 at which
they were assessed. It would be a better
bargain than buying railroad for nothing,
as railroads are often bought. Who would
imagine that the banks, bankers, brokers and
stock jobbers of the State could be doing
their business with only 1888, OS7 of cash
and credits; or, that only $769, 81 worth of
bonds and stocks are owned in Minnesota.
And isn't it horrible to reflect that the stock,
furniture and fixtures of the 1000 to 5000
saloons and eating houses of the State cost
only 1927, 1916? What villianously cheap es-
Establishments they are on the average! But
it is understood, of course, that the assess
ments do not amount to more than half the
taxable wealth of the State, and that the fig
ures following represent only approximately
and comparatively the Investments and ac-
cumulations of our people.
REAL PROPERTY.
No. of acres of land exclusive Of
town and city lots .. 1888, 600
No. of acres improved. . 4,367,65l
No. of acres unimproved. ..... 9,226965
Value of land exclusive of
structures and other improve
ments Observation-Disclosures. IS III, 467,722 90
Average value of land per acre.
exclusive of all improve
mentS. OF
Value of improvements on
lands other than town and
ures INSTRUMENTATION. s.47s,1s2 90
Value of structures on lands,
other than town and sity lots 1850, 7O5 90
Value of lands other than town
and city lots, including
structures and all other i'm
provements. ............. 1ss,e5s,576 90
Average value of land per acre,
including all Improvements. 70
Velue of town and city lots, ex-
elusive of structures and 9TH
er improvements .......... 9s.111,Os 90
Value of structures aud other
improvements on town and
city lots ............... 24,795, s75 90
Value of town and city lots, in