Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-09-04
The Duty of the Assessors.

To the Editor Of the Elsrorh american
| wish TO call the attention of vouI
readers to an obvious injustice which
arises from the failure Of assessors tc
perform their duty. In many of the towns
of Hancock county the shore lands within
Increase of value. 1t is no doubt in some
cases speculative value. The land would
not actually sell for what its owners de
mand, nevertheless, the actual increase i.
very large
] have in mind for example farm IL
town where as yet there are very few
summer residents or cottages. although
there are many boarders in July and
August. 1t is rumored that twenty Five
Thousand dollars have been refused for
this farm. II the story is true. it prob
ably shows the folly both of the owner
and its would-be purchaser. But the place
Is worth, say five thousand dollars. and
would, think, readily bring that sum at
any time. The owner ha, really refused
bona .fde offers for s9ap +
farm sf.,r,med TO believe twa, true.
lh hruTh Tor me one thing mlah' Is affls of the
And the " enuch higher rates. And yet the
assessors continue to rate the value at the
old figure, about $1,000, as If the land were
worth nothing, but so much BURBERRY
pasture.
Now, | maintain that this is precisely
what the assessors have given oath not TO
do. II is unjust to every one concerned.
The summer residents and boarders, and
those who profit by them desire better
roads, which these shore lands with their
enhanced values ought to help to pay II
Is only right for those whose LAMBS have
taken a tenfold value TO share somewhat
in their prosperity, which has cost them
nothing, with their fellow citizens in the
back districts, whose lands have not risen
in value at all
Meanwhile the present owner OF The
shore farm stands. like tho dog IN the
manager, in the way of TIE general pros
perity. He will not sell an acre of his
20 hold without cost. He will perhaps
die without reaping any advantage, except
imaginary wealth from lands which pur-
chasers stand ready to buy improve and
enjoy.
See now what would happen in case the
assessors did their bound-n duty with this
farm. Let them at once raise the tax 10
four thousand dollars at least Or less than
what the farm would readily sell for. No
one doubts, if one Of their citizens lahored
and saved and laid out $500 upon his
house, that the assessors would raise bis
tax at once why then should they refuse
TO raise the tax upon an increase in he
value OF land which i pure good luck 10
is owner: But the moment that the tsx
bill which has been, we VIII suppose, Sl5 q
year for the farm, becomes si5 or $50, the
owner will wish to have some one share
IN paying IT, He viii be glad 10 sell an
acre for 500 to a purchaser. who only
waits for this land 10 build cottage, and
presently TO pay perhaps So more taxes
70 help the town keep IT. schools and
roads.
= soon however ~ 'Ne owner n t-e
'''H IA' >''u al acre OF "'s 'A"'' I" "e
'ee''' ''' '"' 'eS' W '"c 17i ~ = "''"A-f
81 "'"I' ''i"" Wy """4S as "''"'c e.
i'''NN' % '"' "'N '"''"-e' Wa" - NY
Alu pu''u h'Ai "'H- - ING assessor
'"e''iofe commune 10 keep 'l' '"'HH""n
~ 'He P'"f''N a "ei"''' "f even 7" IT
crease H. Inc owner VIII again WISH 20
81 !" A'"" PA4'ns - 'A'I lAA A'"hN'
Inns lie" '"''A-'s WIZ DC e'e'''" All" '"e
""'4e laAA''e '"'ue "a 'ht neg """'h ""'
VIA '' INT
:" we e ~ '''e 'A'''' ""'h '"''
- reason 20 ''''''''' Il TUE SS''1So's
''1' n.y. " f'' '"' y" ''e4 - A'''' ~ Ju>'
NA anu '"u' :" KY 'Ne 'A'''' "N' oi 'i'e
lnA'Ae1, .NH' 'nc'e !" ~ ''Hte 'eh t'lse
3 .--~-, "urtn perhaps $1,000, while the re-
nalndcr OF the farm would have gained
Sill more in taxable value, and even ID
these dull! times there would be chance for
fresh sales Of land IN other words the
| town might have added over SO. 90" to i;s