Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-02-06
A HYPOORITIOAL SHEER.

independence" but ola hypocrite. The
it is cause of the people and will con-
tinue to work indefatigably for their
interests notwithstanding the sopho-
moric claims TO wisdom which are put
forth by the cats paw of the peoples
oppressor. The evidences of parent
age" which the Democrat catches at
with such knowing wink are of small
importance to the public who recog-
nize that it is for them that it labors.
But the "evidences of parentage"
which show that one of their local
papers gets its milk of nourishment
from these worthy cities and is entirely
subservient to their parental rod must
be very startling to these people.
However, az it seems to prove itself
such an obedient child to its parent,
the good money in the cities which
feeds it, the ExrosIroR will venture to
PROFOUND TO it certain questions on
this subject which it begs of it to an
swer. LIST. Why should the villages
and rural townships be raised nearly IL
millions and the cities be lowered fully
million on real estate at the October
session of the board of supervisors?
Ind. Why is it that, according to your
own figures, Port Huron was equalized
on total assessment $3,900,000 in 1880
and 81 ,l5l 900 in 1890, raise in tina t
city in total valuation within ten years
of but S25l 900? 3rd. Is it not true that
Port Huron makes two assessments
each year, one on which to tax for the
city's revenue and one on which to
spread the state and county tax, and
on which the city is equalized with the
rural townships, and that the per
cent dodge which was offered is false,
and does not concern this assessment
at all? Again. 4th. Do the cities of
TT. Gratiot and st. Clair, which were
also lowered, have this same per cent
limit in taxation? Doubtless the Dem
ocrat will have to draw very exhaust
lively from that large stock of informa-
ton which it has if it answer these
questions with sufficient plainness to
the people. One thing alone is requir-
ed, that it do not use its own genius to
fabricate what does not exist in the
way of proof.
When the Democrat has answered
these little matters in regard to one
complaint we will t',in'; the it has
learnt enough about the question IN
attempt the greater ones. 1t may pei
haps call upon its parent, Port Huron,
etc, for few lessons in bull-dozing.
They might not prove, however, rs
efficatious in defense as they lima re.
We venture the following facts Il er-
theless, hoping that the Dem at
will not take offense at them. We ill
take the liberty to confine our fil Tres
to real estate as it is the only true basis
of taxable estimation. The advantage
if any exist will hardly be ours. But it
is not very greatly to the praise of our
contemporary $ acumen that it can not
perceive that we mean real estate when
we say so; and that when we say the
cities are paying taxes on real estate to
but - ,S3l ,S07, that is what we mean.
In 1882 Port Huron was assessed on
real estate 81 1854 ,675; and in 1890, 49,
500, 300, making an increase in assess
ible value within nine years of only
S7l4,625. Again, without intention of
giving offense, Port Huron was lower
ed this year in equalization 1899 400,
which makes the total increase in the
value of real estate in Port Huron dur
ing nine years shrink to but 1885,, l75.
If our neighbor, who has been sitting
in "perfect composure" can show how
Port Huron has not gained over $780,
IT'S in real estate valuation in nine
years, we will resign in their favor.
However it is but justice to remind it
before it understand the task that
other people have already formed
opinions upon the subject and are not
likely to be convinced by n "sneer".
1t is claimed by those who are posted
in city values that Port Huron has
more than doubled in taxable real es-
tate valuation during the last nine
years. A gentleman resident gives
the following illustration of the rapid
growth of the city. He says that in
the 9th ward 500 houses have been
erected within the last three years of
which 81 900 each is low estimate.
That is, half million dollars have
been added to the real estate value of
Port Huron in the 9th ward alone dur
ing three years. And the Democrat
would still like to convince us chat a
raise of $335,775 in nine years is very
great deall The same gentleman goes
on to say that other wards had more
than doubled in taxable real estate
valuation since 1882; and that the city
of Port Huron ought to carry a proper
ton of State and County tax on "A valu-
alton of S6,0O0,000, that it may be in
proportion to the valuation ut which
the towns were euualiZed mt the Oct