The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-12-06

1880. 322,00O,O0O
In this statement the valuation for
1870 is reduced 10 gold basis. Of the
amount given for 1880, $296, ,0OO, 900 was
the property of residents. The figures
show, at n glance, the terrible loss in.
tlctcd upon the State By Emancipation
and carret-bag rule. They mark too
the rapidity with which the State is
regaining lost ground. But, in relation
to taxation, the significance Of the figures
lies in the fact that the property which
has true value of $322, 600 900, accord.
ing to the census, is assessed for taxation
at only Sl50,609,304. The law requires
that all property shall be taxed at its
value, and it is taxed at less than half of
its value. There are few States, we be-
leve, in which the assessed value ;s ss
high rs the true value, but the law of
South Carolina provides that property
shall be taxed at its full value, and the
law, therefore, should be enforced or
amended. There is a reason why the
assessments are kept down. The general
and natural desire is to avoid taxation.
There is no standard of value in the
State. Each county is assessed in
accordance with the notions of the local
assessors. Where then is the use or ad-
vantage of forcing up assessments in one
county when in adjoining counties the
assessments are being reduced7 When
all property is really assessed at its value,
or in fixed proportion to it's value, it
will be no injury to make the assessments
high. As the assessments are now ar.
ranged, the counties which are assessed
at high rate pay part of the taxes
which should be paid by counties which
have low assessments.
Comptroller General Stoney, in his
admirable report to the State Legislature,
gives the average values of real estate as
estate which is not in cities, to,pns and
riNages, it is seen that the assessed value
per acre ranges from 95 cents in Horny
10 $9.3l in Charleston. In Pickens the
average ia S2.98 and in the adjoining
county, Oconee, it is only Sl.92. Aiken
is rated at $l.87 while the rating of
Edgctield is 1881 and of Barnwell 81. .25.
The highest rating, outside Of Charleston
County, is S5l5 in Anderson, and the
next in amount are Chester $3.50, Marl.
boro' $4.S6, York $4.75, New berry $457,
Spartanburg S4.48, Union $4.3S, and
Greenville $4.25. It is not mere guess.
ing to say that some of the ratings are
too low, or others are too nigh. In tbs
value of buildings there is a similar dii-
ference. The extreme ratings are,
Charleston s47S.Ss and Clarendon $2O.76
In Abbevile the rating is $l309S, in
Anderson $54.42, in Edgefeld $l44.66,
and in Barnwell, Clarendon, Colleton,
Hampton, Orangeburg and Williams.
burg the rating is $50 or less. Can the
assessments be at the true value in each
county, Passing to personal property,
the difference in the assessment is very
striking. The average valuation Of
horses ranges from $8l.52 10 Richland, to
$45.45 in Laurens, of mules and asses
from $97.72 in Horny to $4s.47 in Lau.
rens, of pleasure carriages from $272.98
in Edgefeld to $50 in Berkley, Oconee
and Pickeus, Of piano for,es and melo.
deons from $l02 in York to 40 in Berke.
ley. Surely there I, erroneous assess.
ment somewhere, anl erroneous assess.
snent means that one man is made to
pay, in part, the taxes of another. The
taxpayer bears't the burden which should
fall on the tax.dodger. Why, tho mum.
Der Of acres Of land returned for. taxation