The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-05-10
OUR TAXES.
A Core respondent on Unjust and I'm.
eqnai Taxation.

A respondent on Unjust and I'm
eqnai Taxation.
To the Editor of the Sentinel.
The great and important question of Reve-
nue. and Taxation has for generations been
a perplexing one-a problem that our wisest
and most astute statesmen have been unable
to solve. And it is not the intention of the
writer to attempt solution of the intrica-
cies of this vexed question. But there are
some things in connection with the subject
hat are patent to any one who will take the
the trouble to look into the matter, even from
most elementary standpoint. 1t is well estab-
lishcd fact-the result of the observation,
and am sorry to say the experience, of
goodly number of US Winston-Salem folk
that the socalled modern Boom is exceed
ingly disastrous in its effects and sequences;
indeed regard the results following in the
wake of boom as almost equal to the dire
full consequences of a great conhagration or
a destructive cyclone. Values have become
fictitious imitation has practically known no
bounds, and our real estate has been assessed
at figures entirely beyond the pale of reason.
our suburban property being assessed fire.
quently at from $500 to 81 900 per acre-at
least five or six times the amount it could
be sold for. The writer owns several subur-
ban vacant lots which are assessed at exactly
four times what they cost him, and he
would today gladly sell them at one half the
tax valuation Then too it will be found
that the land companies do not pay a third
or fourth of what they should in the way of
taxation as compared with the individual
owners of lots. Land throughout the county
| is assessed at from 50 to IS per acre, whereas
| in and near the county town (Winston) the
| assessment is frequently one hundred CD
times that amount. These things ought not
| so to be, and the assessors ought, as a matter
of Justice and duty, correct an error that en-
tails MUCK inequality and oppression on
| certain classes of our people. There lives a
| gentleman not great distance from Win
ston who owns AL acres of land, and this
| valuable property is listed on the tax books
at the insignificant sum of 100. This
| large and beautiful plantation has an ele-
CANT residence situated thereon, together
| with numerous other improvements, and
the owner today would not take less than
$1,000 or $1,000 for the outfit, and yet a num-
| Der of comparative humble homes in Win
| ston-Salem are assessed at nearly double that
| amount
| There arc numbers of cases in the Twin
| City of great disparity in comparative
values as fixed by the board of assessors, but
| we will only mention one. a gentleman,
| who is universally recognized as one of the
| best men in our community, and certainly one
who pays his taxes promptly, called my at
| tention few days since to disparity in tax
alton that sounds almost Incredible He is
| the owner of a small two-room house and
| lot situated in one of the most insificant
| places in East Winston, right in branch
| He says he offered repeatedly to take $50 fol
| the lot, but could find no purchaser; anC
| finally contracted with Messrs. Fogle Bro.
| for the erection of a small two-room house
| on the lot which cost him about $500, max
ing total cost cost of house and lot not more
than $3.50. Now, this very property is as
scssed on the tax books at the enormous sun
of 1920. He also called my attention to the
fact that there were situated on Cherry an,
Elm street on lot 55x1S5, running from stree
to street, two good, large, comfortable eigh
room dwellings-the entire property assessed
at the exceedingly insignificant sum of $500
Now, the property situated on Cherry stree
with the cight-room residence and on
half lot 55x185, we would certainly estimat
|
house and lot in rear of same fronting OF
Elm street, certainly nat less than s., OOO
making a grand total of $4,000. This is
conservative estimate. In other words, tn
first mentioned property is assessed at abou
thirty times as much as that last suggested
in proportion to thsir respective true value
This is positive shamc My motto is fla
ustitia vuat coelum-let justice be don
though the heavens fall. There are numel
| Gus cases almost as bad as tn e comparison
just suggested.
| Permit the writer to conclude this brie
communication by suggesting to those il
authority the grave and paramount import
ance of appointing assessors who are no
only well versed in the relative value O
properties but who will exercise that degre
of justice in the imposition of the burden
of taxation that ought by all means to b
melted out to the citizens of our community
with at least some degree of precision an
in proportion to their respective financia
conditions. The subject is grave and i'm
portant one and we trust will receive tn
consideration its gravity imports. NJ.