The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-02-22

:. :. iss ,sss " T. r. rax'.. H. lsI s .saS IS 3
The collections in 1888 from all
sources exceed the disbursements $685.
17S.46.
Those in 1889 exceeded disburse-
ments to the amount of $25O,425.44.
The last Legislature passed a new
law In relation TO assessment of realty.
This law has been of great benefit gen.
orally, and only needs a few changes
in unimportant features to render 1t
more practical In execution, and have
no hesitsncy in stating that, in the
hands of competent assessors, 1t will
prove a success and demonstrate its
own utility in equalizing assessments
throughout the State. l must be par
doned for saying, that many OF the
rolls of counties demonstrate the fact
that the assessment Of property is in
the hands Of men grossly incompetent.
The inspection of rolls by legislators
is invited, and respectfully urged. |
find that great jealousy exists over
this matter OF assessment between
counties, and the law seems purposely
ignored hence, beg to suggest, that
to equslize assessments in manner at
all fairly and just, in my judgment,
State Board of Equalizers will have to
be created, with power to traverse the
rolls, note all failures TO comply with
the law IN making perfect rolls, and
return the same for correction aud
changes when needed.
Too little attention is manifestly
paid by boards of supervisors to this
matter, in passing uron rolls for final
acceptance. The rolls themselves evil
dence gross neglect or objectionable
igno ofance of the requirements of law
on the part of boards supervisors. In
fact, so much can be said and so many
are the evils that underlle this, the
groundwork of our revenue system,
that would suggest the raising of a
committee to devise and report some
remedy.
Assessors are really hard worked
and poorly paid. Hence but few of
the really capable are willing to take
the office. Better pay should be pro-
vided and better qualified officer de-
handed, even though test of compe-
tency were required. The office is one
that the average elector seems to think
can be filed by any "clevee, poor and
needy citizen" No greater mistake
can be made. Upon his work depends
40 per cent. Of our revenue, and out OF
1t grows largely the just complaint of
unequal taxation. Ifpossiblc, do away
with incompetent assessors.
The necessity from business stand.
point for q department for the collec.
ton Of statistical Information relating
to the State's material interests has
been suggested to me by many Of the
most progressive business men In the
State, and the newspapers in some Of
the most progressive business centert
have urged with sound reason the pro
priety and necessity of some legisla
tion OH this subject. The eve of thu
outside world Is on Mississippi as 1
field for investment In land for cult
vstion and in manufactures, and an
constantly appealed to for information
touching the States resources, which
cannot furnish. lam persuaded that |
system for collecting statistical inform
alton could be devised that would be O
great value and at little expense to tn,
| State.
At the time of my induction int,
Office the records of tax lands shove,
holdings under forfeiture for taxes o
nearly one million acres. Inspection
Of the records on December 81, 1889
. shows that there is in the Hill Coun
: ties 213,000 acres, and in the Delta 81,
} 0C0 acres, making a total of, in roun,
} numbers, 100000 acres. These constl
!. TUE the remainder of that vast are
D reaching into the millions forfeite,
) prior to 1880 and not redeemed. II
: safe to conclude, moreover, that of tn
: present holdings nearly or quite one
1 third are improperly held for variou
1 reasons, and should be stricken fron
: the records. This is being done dali,
J. and as evidence is produced shown
!, the errors In sales to the State, as
l now provided by law.
|, The rapidity of sales of these land
. to individuals, and the eyer-increasin
e demand for them point with great en-
: phasis to the fact that lands are OF
: hancing in value and are no longer q
: incubus, as has been so long felt b
:. owners. Nor are tax-collectors no,
Q reporting sales for non-payment {
|. taxes. In fine, our lands have a sui
D stantial value which will account fc
t the large increase of $25,0O0OO0
g values of real estate, as shown by la,
n assessments.
s Attention is called to the fact tb,
/ the last official map of the State W,
9 made in 1871. Since which tine se'
IS eral new counties have been forme
and do not appear thereon. Man
A changes have been made and statistic
features developed which should
= shown on an official map. All acc
= rate and complete map is very esse
: . tial to an intelligent attention to Il
4 Revenue Department of the Stat
4 This Office is without official or reli
q Bile knowledge of the railroad milea.
- in the State, the exact area of ca,
n county or the population of the vario
q cities and towns within them, whi,
= should bc shown for this decenni
;, year.
n Under "An Act to equalize asses
n ments in the different counties of d
Il State" approved March 8, 1888, d
land has been assessed in the diflere
"a counties; and with much labor al
n care the results have been tabulate,l
a this office, showing the same und
II the following headings: Numb
i acres cleared lands; approximated a
3 3 cragc value per acre of cleared land
i total value cleared lands, Including
" corporated cities and towns; numb
acres uncleared lands; approximat,
average value per acre Of unclcar
se lauds; total value of uucleared land
A. tttal value Of both cleared and i
IL cleared lands; number acres 81 lau
:, assessed to State; appropriated ~
aye value per acre Of lands assessed
IY &frf1 oUtxro~{<< f.I .+-z..<.-z. u. b