Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-01
REINSTATEMENT OFTHE REAL PROP.
ERTY OF THE STATE.

\ bill which will interest the people
Of the State quite as much As any other
measure of this session of the Legisla-
ture, is that passed, yesterday, prOvid-
ing for a reassessment Ofthe real prop
erty of the State.
There are some sections of the State
which will pay a larger share of the
State revenues, after the reassessment,
than they are now paying, but, perhaps,
the greater portion of the State will not
be greatly affected by it. And, yet,
those sections which are now develop
ing and whose lands have been en-
HANGED in value, are the very sections
which will continue to grow more
rapidly, and it is really to their interest
10 have the assessment made now than
two or three years later, as there is 10
probability of another being made in
much less than ten years.
The main features of the law provide
that 1.-THE Auditor shall appoint one
commissioner for each assessment dis
trict in the several counties of this State,
who shall be a resident freeholder of
such district, aud whose duty it shall be
to reassess the value of all real estate
therein"
The second section requires the COM
missioners so a%ppointcdto execute bonds
in the penalty of $1,000 each, and take
the prescribed oath within thirty days
after being notified of their appoint
ment.
SECTION 3. The Auditor shall, as 0
as possible, cause to ~beprOvided for each
commissioner two books, similar i'm
form to the assessors land book, with
such changes as the nature of the work
requires, and shall also furnish each
commissioner with instructions, pre-
scribing in detail, the manner in which
they are to arrive at proper valuations
of real estate, and the manner of max
ing up their books and returns.
SEC. 1. Each commissioner SO APP
pointed and qualified shall, on the first
day of April, i'll the year one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-twO, or as
soon thereafter as practicable, after
receiving the books and instructions to
he furnished by the auditor aforesaid,
proceed to examine, in person, all the
tracts of land and town lots, with the
buildings and improvements thereon,
within his district, and shall, upon en-
animation, and In accordance with his
said instructions, ascertain and assess
the fair cash value thereof and in such
assessment the minerals underlying the
surface shall be considered in ascertain
ing the value of such land, in current
money; and when mineral or coal privi-
lege or interest is held by a party, or
parties, exclusive of the surface, the
same shall he assessed separately, to
such party, or parties, at its cash market
value. To assist him in a%scertaining
and identifying the said lands and lots,
he shall obtain from the clerk of the
county court the land book of the dis
trict he is to assess, made for the year
II thousand eight hundred and eighty
one; or, if no such book be on file for
that year, then the next preceding book
on file, and carry it with him for refer
nee in making this assessments
SEC. D. In all eases where it is prac-
ticable, the commissioner shall exhibit
the entry of any lands or town lots
found on said book, to the owner of the
said lands or his agent and ascertain
from him fthe said entry be correct as
10 the location, title and quantity, and
may require such owner or agent to
answer, on oath, questions relative to
such lands and the entry thereof aS NAV
be pertinent. For this purpOsethe COM |
missioner shall be authorized to admin |
lister said oath. Any person refusing to
answer, under oath, questions that may
be prOpounded to him in reference to
said assessment, shall be fined not less
than twenty dollars nor more than fifty
dollars, for every such refusal, to be as
seSsed and recovered, before a justice, as
other fines, and paid into the county |
treasury.
After the commissioners have com
pleted their assessment in their respec-
i've districts, they are required to make
two copies thereofin books to be furnish
ed them and file one of these with the
clerk of the county court and transmit
the other to the Auditor on or before
the LIST day of October, 1882.
SEC. q. Any person feeling himself
aggneved by the assessment Of his real
estate, made under the provisions of
this act, may, within one year after the
filing OF a copy of such assessment with
the clerk of the county court apply, by
himself or his agent, to the said court
for redress, first giving reasonable notice
OF his intention to the prosecuting at
torney and stating in such notice the
character OF the correction he desires.
1t shall be the duty of the prosecuting