The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-06

able discussion, Mr.. Walker the county
SCISSOR and Mr.. Folk the city assessor, have
ut seen fit to say much about the assess
emit. The county assessor has been busy
|r several weeks in making up his rolls
nd they are not yet completed. He can
ut understand how 1t is that people who
lave never been in his Office to examine the
cords should know go much more about
lie assessment than he does. In certain
stances figures have been gwen of what
lie total assessed valuation of the county
Fill amount to. These estimates have been
ade all the way from $20, O00, 600 to $780,
O,OOO. The assessor says he has not yet
,tained the total figures and does not
low Just what they will amount to. He
is made an estimate but does not care to
y what it il. He remarked yesterday af-
moon that when he had his rolls finished
. total valuation would be announced
lit until that. time he thinks that any out.
| de estimates are somewhat premature. In
fakinQ his assessments he has departed
Emewhat from the methods employed by
| 9 predecessors in Office. And the result
ks been, as he says, that by following out
8 own ideas he has been enabled to locate
considerable amount Of property which
r years has been overlooked by other as
|lopted by Mr.. Walker for ascertaining the
lue of property laid out in blocks and lots
known as the square foot system. Under
is arrangement corner lots from Broad
~ to Sixth avenue on Main street are
|.lued at $3.50 a square foot. Inside lots
thin these boundaries are valued at $3.50
square foot. Below Sixth avenue
,ntinuing on Main street the val J.
square foot. At about the Power block
rther down the figure is placed at So per
uare foot. West from Main to Park
enue the corner lots run in value at $3.50
square foot. While east of Main and on
.oadway at Breckenridge the corners have
en- valued at $1.5O per square foot. The
esbyterian church property on Brecken-
lge street, which was sold about 2 year
lornburoh at q handsome figure, has been
sessed by MI. Walker at 81 per square
ot. Another piece of property which was
ID to Denver syndicate by the same firm
just opposite the Merchants hotel on
oadway. This has been valued at 81 per
uare foot for assessment purposes. At
head of Main street near State street
corner lots have been fixed at 81 per
uare foot. just below, at Main and Wall
s'eets, it is little higher, being $3.50 per
uare foot.
Quite number of returns of property
I've been turned in at low figures
at Mr.. Walker has raised the valuation
He gave as an example the case of
operty owner who turned in 100 acres
nth of the Northern Pacific tracks at
100. This has been raised to $4,000, be-
4 at the rate of 800 per acre. The Hard
ach, which is about 1--WE miles from the
" has had a valuation of $40
acre placed upon it. Property
thin radius of two or three miles from
wn has been fixed at 800 per acre. vary
somewhat according to location. Prop
~ owned by. the Northern Pacific Rail
ad company located one mile east Of the
pot was assessed at the rate Of $500 an
ire by the assessor. This figure has been
cepted as satisfactory to the railroad
mpany by it's tax commissioner. Other
Ids of this company in remote portions
the county which were assessed at the
to of 81 cents per acre last
ar have been raised this year
Mr.. Walker to 81 an acre. The
sessment of the company on property,
,luding lots, acre property, station houses,
D., as turned in BY the company, was
sed in considerable amount over the
mpany's figures. The figures as finally
ed upon by the county assessor were ac-
pied by the railroad on Thursday.