The Portland daily press., 1889-03-07
CUMBERLAND COUNTY GRANGE
Holds an Interesting Meeting with
Presumpscot Grange.
An Address on the Timber Lands by
Mr.. L. 3. bennett.

Cumberland County Pomona Grange met
with Presumpscot Grange Of Deering yester-
day. Gray. Windham. Gorham, North Var
mouth, Westbrook and Scarboro Oranges
were all largely represented, and the meet
ing was one of the most interesting held
this season. Mr.. Isaac L. Elder, Master OF
the Presumpscot Grange presided. The ad-
dress of welcome was delivered by Mr.. w.
w. Harris of Presumpscot Grange, and 1t
was responded to on behalf of the Pomona
Grange by Mr.. S. p. Gunnison of Oak Hill
Grange, Scarboro. After Mr.. Gunnison's
response u new members were admitted to
the Grange Then a bountiful dinner for
which the patrons Of husbandry are famous
was served. Interesting papers were
read by Mrs. Isaac L.Elder, and Mrs. Angus
tusC. Jones. A reading by Miss Lillian Jones
was well rendered. and as the applause of
the audience testified was fully apprecia-
ted. The song "Gold. Gold, Gold" by Miss
Lillian M. Webb and Mr.. Frank Walker,
was sung with much expression and taste,
and was one of the most pleasing features
of the entertainment. The question for de-
bate, "Do commercial fertilizers pay?" was
discussed by many, Mr.. w. w. Harris OPP
ening the debate, followed by Messrs Abb.
on p. Aver, Moses G. Roberts and others.
Mr.. L. II. bennett delivered an address on
the plantation timber lands of Name" OF
which we give the following extract
MIR. DEMENT'S ADDRESS.
There is a:vast territory in Northern and
Eastern Maine, covered with timber trees Of
various kinds, containing s,69l, OS2 acres ac
cording to official returns, territory larger
than the States of Massachusetts and Con.
necticutiby PCS, 4S2 acres, whose owners pay
into the treasury of Maine for taxes only
$27,679 80, or two and threeiquarters mills
per acre, valued at about 81 per acre. These
timber lands are in uninhabited plantations
and free from burdens of municipal taxa
ton for the support of schools. roads, bridg-
es and other town purposes. Similar lands,
situated in our rural towns, are subject to
taxation at the municipal rate and upon the
municipal valuation. For instance, a farm
er owning 30 acres of timber lands will be
fortunate, If the assessors do not value it
more THAI $40 an acre, or $500, and / per
cent is less than the average rate of municip.
al taxation in the State. The farmer paws 81
tax on his 30 acres, the proprietor Of the
other words the farmer pays about $500 per
cent more than the owner of the plantation
The hypothesis assumed for this comparison
may not be altogether true, but it substan-
TALLY illustrates the actual discrimination
which really exists in favor Of the planta-
ton and against the farm
The less accessibility to the market of the
timber lands of the plantations, diminish
somewhat their value. but the immense har-
vests of timber annually taken from them
disclose the fact of their immense value. Ac-
cordng to the US. Census . 1880 there were
sawed in Maine the year proceeding 566,65
900 feet OF lumber, 49,, $4,000 laths, 426, $50,
600 shingles 81, 900 slaves, 1926, 900 feet
(broad measure) of spool and b0bbin stock.
The total value of the product was $685.
s6s, exceeding in value tie entire hay crops
Of Maine harvested and in the barns.
The far greater part of this vast quantity
of lumber was taken from the plantations.
There are no statistics showing the annual
amount realized by the proprietors of these
lands for the trees, or stumpage. But the
census of 1880 puts the value Of the logs and
other materials used at $4, 951, 957, and the
total sum paid for labor 81, 161. 142, making
the cost of the product, valued at 81, 1888 1868,
to be $6,l13.099, giving profit of 81, $50 900,
showing that the income from these lands Is
the immense sum of 81, 500, 600, or per cent
on capital of $3.50 100000 am aware Of
the danger OF relying entirely upon this in
ference from the data given, but the figures
Enthusiastically show a vast income upon the
property. disclosing its immense value. At
ter considerable inquiry and in view of all
the facts have been able to command, i be-
lleve that three dollars per acre would not be
too high an average valuation for these plan
tatlon lands OF Maine. do not believe that
they can be purchased on an average at SO
per acre; S,691 ,082 acres at So per acre, gives
q valuation of S26,073,246. And these lands
pay less than $2S, 900 into the treasury of the
StatQ 10 ha vol ff.,
too low by 300 per cent, but the rate of %
mills Is an unjust discrimination in favor OF
this vast and productive property 1t is
burdened with no other taxes as our munich
fair share Of the public burdens, and one
per cent on the above valuation will still
leave this property more favored in respect
to taxation than the real and personal prop
erty Of our towns and cities. This prop
erty should pay in the treasury Of
of less than S2S.000. Our entire State tax for
1887 was $648, 1884 The towns of Cumber-
land county and the city of Portland paid
$1A. 924 20 Of this sum. more than q per cent
OF It. The city Of Portland alone paid $685.
1883, or more than one-eighth part of it. If
tn ,se plantation lands had paid $3.50, 900 in
stead of S2S,000. Portland's State tax would
have been about $4,000 less than it was.
The town of Deering would have saved more
than 5000, the town Of Westbrook $1,000,
Brunswick $1,000. Cape Elizabeth $17OO,
Wlndham and New Gloucester $500 or 500
each. know that an attempt to tax these
forests would meet violent opposition. |
know that change in our laws would be
necessary in order to bring about this Just
measure. But the obstacles to it are not in
sporadic Ii the present proprietors should
be unwilling to hold them at the valuation
put upon them by the State, the State might
take them off their hands and sell the stump
age, as the State ought to have done at the
beginning. We should have received more
and still have kept our magnificent domain
larger than Massachusetts and Connecticut
together Think of it. We taxpayers of the
towns and cities of Maine, only $2S.0O0 de-
rived from an empire Of magnificent forests"
A beautiful basket Of flowers, in respect to
the memory of departed members of Pre-
sumpscot Grange, was presented by Mr.. and
Mrs. L. B. bennett, and placed upon the
Masters desk.