Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1885-07-18
COMMUNICATED.
rILxY p. MAxGHAn. ESQ

PRopRlrroR OF RIcHLASD BsAcoS. Rayvilie,
Dear Sir: wish TO address a cornmnnica-
ton to the public through the columns Of the
BEACON, setting forth the benefits to the Peo
pie of this county arising from protection by
levees from overflow. The advantages Of
protection from overflow are so plain, ! only
deem IT necessary 10 refer the most skeP'ical 10
the present happy condition Of the country,
and Think it not worth my while to dwell
upon this subject at greater length! but wish
to explain the position have taken with re-
gard to the five % mill tax, and now quote
few sections from act No. 81 Of 1881 by
. which have been governed, und wish TO
direct the attention Of the reader thereto Sec
of act M. &c reads AZ follows: THAT only
such pcrt,,ns Of the par. she. above enumerated
in section as are subject now to overflow,
or that have been overlooked, directly or ir.
directly, by the waters Of the Ouachi,a or
Mississippi rivers, in any year since 1865,
shall be liable To taxation under the provisions
of ,hi, act; but in determining the assessment
of any lands for taxation when il shall be
asc.rtained that any portion OF six,hen,h Of
a section of land does overflow. or has been
over flo wed, then the whole Of said sixteenth
OF sec,ioc shall be assessed, without regard
to owhershp' Aud section . reads a. fol-
lows: THAT the assessors Of the different
a.
first day Of August each year, shall, from
.ien own knowledge. or from the most relia'
bic information they can obtain, separately
list all the taxable property situated in the
portions Of their several parishes which are
subject to overflow now, or have been over
fiowed in any year since 1865; and from
these lists he sl.al prepare separate tax rolls
on blanks to he furnished by the State Auditor
fully describing the properly assessed, as pro-
I vided lOr under the general revenue law o
the State, copy of which shall be deposited
in the office of the recorder, and another fur
Dished to the Sheriff Of the parish" Ant
also See. 10 reads: THAT in all cases whsr
the assessors and tax payers fail to agree as Il
the facts whether lands are subject to lie listet
and assessed under the PROVISIONS of this act
then it shall be the duty Of he Assessor Il
J cali in three other tax pagers acquainted will
the locality, a msj ,rity OF whom shall final
decide and make up the list, giving number
OF the land or smount OF personal property
to be assessed, &c.
am conscientious in this matter. and sim
ply wish to do my duty, and am trying Il
comply faithfully with the law, and will her
say, thar the property exenp, from the leve
tax in Richland parish is a very small quaint
,y compared TO the property subject thereto
And ,hinx every fair minded man in til
parish will az rec with me in saying he
greatly benefited by keeping the overflow
out of thi. country. In listing the proper,
Throughout the parish have been very par
ticular in my inc ires aud observations, an
find a few small land owners in iavore'
localities who are rxcmp, from the five mil
tax, AMI in listing all property | have ex
planned the law Is understood il, and som
Tax payers say, swell have 10 or SO acre
(r as their idea Of it MY hey that you ma
list Tor the FIVE mill ,ax;" to .nch have in
variably stated thus: "for as many "a } fr'ie
as you can poin, out aud describe by thei
legal subdivisions that You can swear tn
overflow has not effected either directly or in
directly then will exempt i, from the nv
mill tax otherwise cannot" Hoping | nav,
not trespa-sed too msch upon your valuable
time and space will lie greatly obliged
you will give this letter to the public in you
next issue. Very Respectfully.
GEO. L. PUREIS,
RayviIc, La, July Is, 80. Assessor