The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-02-15
sncRETARY STEWARDS REPORT
Figures Affecting the Question of Taxa

tion in the State. The Assessed Value
of all Property for Taxing Purposes.
Secretary Thomas J. Stewart has finished
the general report of the department Of in
ternal affairs for the year ending November
30, 1892 In this report may be found de-
tailed statement of the transactions Of the
board Of property, board constituted by
law for the purpose of settling disputes
which arise from defects in the titles which
have been given by the commonwealth, as
well as matters which pertain to appica-
cations for the vacant land of the common
wealth. Many important cases have been
considered during the year, involving the
application of the rules of law as they re-
late to the laws of originalstitles.
One important feature of the report for
the year 1872 will be history and descrip-
tion of "depreciatcd lands" TIE lands de.
scribed are situated north OF the Ohio and
west Of the Allegheny rivers and comprise
about 10000 acres. They were given in
payment of continental scrip, which were
given to the soldiers for services In the rev.
olutionary war, At one time this continen-
tai scrip was considered substantially
worthless but the state of Pennsylvania,
with due appreciation of the services render
ed by the soldiers Of the Pennsylvania line
In the war for deyendendence, provided
for redemption of this money by allowing
the soldiers and other persons who had
possession Of this script to pay II to the
commonwealth for the lands located as be-
fore indicated and those lands, On account
of the great depreciation in the value of
money, have since been called depreciation
lands"
The report contains the detailed account
of the operations of the state weather bureau
taI k,,t t,tta pf
Philadelphia. The climatic changes, tenn
perature, rainfall and weather observations
In general are given In detail.
ASSESSMENTS.
The question of taxation is Of so vital
an interest to every citizen Of the common
wealth that the portion of the report refer
ring TO the assessment of taxes IS of para
mount interest. In this part of the report
will be found:first, the number Of taxables;
second, the number Of acres Of cleared land;
third, the number of acres of timbered
land; fourth, value of all real estate; fifth,
value OF all real estate exempt from taxation;
sixth, value of all real estate taxable;
seventh, number and value of horses, mares,
geldings and mules over the age of 4 years;
eighth, number and value of neat cattle;
ninth, value of salaries and emoluments Of
officers; terth, aggregate value of all prop
erty taxable for county purposes; eleventh,
aggregate amount Of county tax assessed;
twelfth amount Of money at interest in.
Guiding mortgages, Judgements, bonds, notes,
etc; thirteenth, value of stages, omnibuses,
hacks, etc; fourteenth. aggregate value OF
property taxable for state purposes at rate
of mills on the dollar: fifteenth, aggregate
amount of state tax assessed and sixteenth.
the debt OF the sevt raj counties of the com.
monwealth. In considering the number of
taxables there are ~ the commonwealth Il Is
well TO remember that the S5. 5.00),0C0 appr
priated by the legislature per annum to aid
,,,t ,f La. Ia l;atr ;b,,t
ed according 10 the taxahles In each assess.
ment district. A somewhat remarkable fact
is shown by the returns from the courty
commissioners as they appear in the report
In regard TO the county of Allegheny. In
the report for 1891 the county Of Allegheny
returned Ia IA taxables; this year the re-
turn is but 1888 636. being decrease of 81
0's. It may be presumed, therefore that
Allegheny county will get much less pro.
portion Of the s5.nlO0) appropriated for
schools than II has Heretofore received.
The report of Secretary Stewart attributes
assessors in that county to make a
full return of the number of taxa.
ables In the several assessment lila.
tries. for II cannot be presumed that, with
the reported growth in the cities Of Alle-
gheny and Pittsburg. a. wei as throughout
the entire county, there could be q falling
off in the number of taxables There are
few other counties In which there Is a
slight falling OF in the number of taNables.
Most of the counties, however, SOW a
marked increase. especially In Philadelphia,
which shows a very markell increase, indi-
eating that these counties share of the
school appropriation will be somewhat in
creased
TOTAL VALUE oP REAL ESTATE REPORTED.
The total value ofall real estate. ms shown
bv Secretary Stewart, in 1891 was 81 $50 lBl.-
80 while for the year IN closed the
smount ed Ia found Ia be SJ hi2 hn7 :
834, or an estimated incre Sc of the value Of
all real estate in the Common wealth OF S2S2 :
4l6674. The increase in 1891 over that OF
1890 was but s72. 100 32i
The county Of Allegheny shows an in
crease i'm the value Of real estate of $l63 9I0 :
1l6. Cambria county shows the next high
est increase of xl5 S62 070. Some Of the
counties show falling on in the value Of
all real estate.
The property which s exempt from taxa.
tion under the laws of the Common wealth
Is that cons sting Of municipal buildings.
schoolhouses, churches and cemeteries
| There are few counties am ong them Arm
strong Dauphin. Forrest. Greene and Pot
ter, whose returns show falling of in the
pronerty exempt from taxation. while mes
of the counties show remarkable increase
Ths value OF real estate taxables has in
creased rom s2.O92, ,3389s3 in 1891. to 81
sos 767 ,4l in 1892, or an increase.of s2l6,
<3O,3is.
The heaviest increase Of values of real es
state which is taxable Is found in the county
! Of Allegheny. and is given at sll5. 100 SB2
| There certain animals are taxed or county
purposes. where thev are over I vpars Of age
but IL has become proverbial throughout th,
State that bu' few of these animals eveI
! reached that age. and their under valuation
is equally we'll known. The purpose oil
screening this subject Of taxation, If course
Ia well known to be the desire on the part OF
everyone to escape paying taxes wherever
| there Is possibility.
The aggregate amount Of county taxes rs
sessed in l>9i was $lS. $50 go 81 In 1889:
the amount is given at sls, s29. $50 78. show
ing something over s500.OOO increase OF
| money collected fnr the purpose nf main
| tanning the several county governments
throughout the Common wealth. Allegheny
county appears to have decreased the
amour, oftaSes collected Tor the support OF
| the county government. In 1891 the re-
| turns showed an increase of 60 ono. 900 OF
money at interest over the previ us year,
while this wear there has been an increase