The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-16

high the valuation. provided it is evenly
placed. But not so with state and county
taxes where the rural town Is pitted against
the city and its half-hidden values. In my
own town for several years past the state
and county tax together has been Just about
twice the municipal expenses. Hence this
injustice applies to much the larger part of
the tax assessed.
"For each of the two last decades this dis
elimination against farm property has borne
with especial force, and particularly SO in
the last TO- The skrinkage of farm real es-
tate in the last 20 years has reached full 80
per cent of its value. In the last 10 of these
years the shrinkage has been 80 per cent
with hardly selling demand left.
in these same 10 years the property and
business investments in the growing town
and city have Increased, in the aggregate, at
low estimate, at least 25 per cent. With an
undervaluation on the increase on the one
hand, and an generalization on the decrease
on The other, 1t is easy to figure that farm
property is paying more than double its just
share of taxes. Besides, the man in
business will put five, ten, fifteen or
more, thousands of dollars addi-
tional into his business and no notice is TAX
en- of 1t by the assessors, but if farmer puts
q new shingle on his house (6guratively
speaking), he is taxed for it. Is the man of
means goingto invest his capital in farm
real estate under these conditions? Not he!
Ii he studiously shuns such investments he
the general depression around him.
THE REMEDIES.
"These are some of the thumb screws that
are being set upon the farmer and his prop
erty, and all that time will allow to be no.
ticed in this paper 1t Is not strange that
farm real estate Is not salable. 1t is not sur
prising that productive lands are ignored
and men seek business in town. 1t is plain
to see why young men leave the State and go
West. And these are reasons enough why
farms are not appreciated. The deserted
farms" of which so much has been said and
written, and the decline of New England
farming" what there Is of it, over which the
metropolitan papers have been so deeply in
terested are accounted for under these same
heads.
of the agriculture of the State is in reversal
OF the causes which have brought it about:
l. Money, must be kept at home, aud in the
town where it is made,
Q. Investment in farm enterprises must be
8 Agriculture must be fostered by the State.
4. The discrimination in taxation must be re
5. Public sentiment must be corrected.
.. Home advantages must be written up, talk
ed up taught up, and posted up aud western
DuDDleS blown up aud the children brought up
with an appreciation Of our own surroundings
2. Capitalists must seek investments in our
own State.
"Can all this be done? Yes, if men in
OdiACoe oCb duUuI lut baludblOu CUululIo-
sion now in session can do much towards re-
Loving taxation. The tax commission now
investigating taxation can devise way to
release mortgaged farm real estate from
taxes, and the next legislature can make it a
law. These are steps whose effects would
be promptly felt. Others would
easily follow when men awake to
the fact that we have an agriculture to save,
and that faithful citizens have a responsible
ity In its welfare: Already. there are signs
OF Improvement in certain directions. There
IS more hopeful sentiment cultivated over
our home resources. The western drift of
our young blood mas been checked. We
have only to cultivate these favorable condi-
tions and add still others to their influence
to hasten on this improvement, and work
rapid change.
"The importation of colonies of foreigners
to make these cheap lands their homes Is not
what is wanted, and can never reach the
case: Re-establish public sentiment that
shall recognize the real productive and in
trlnsic value of these lands, encourage an
appreciation OF the money advantages by
which we are surrounded, employ our money
In home industries, and instead of keeping
the vision fixed on distant objects, remove
the discrimination of taxation now crippling
farm Investments, ahd we shall have no
cheap lands. Values will return, and when
again established there will be no dwellings
wanting occupants, no lands awaiting own
ers."
In the election of officers the choice for
president fell on Thomas Daggett OF Fox
croft; vice president, B. W. McKeen; mes
seuger, A. III. Whitmore. Thomas Daggett,
Secretary Gilbert and B. w. McKeen were
elected an executive committee to act in
place of the full board in the interim be-
tween the annual meetings