The Portland daily press., 1894-12-31
PortIand's Valuation.

To the Editor of the PRESS:
Your valuable paper of today is at hand
and upon reading the remarks of Mr.Farns-
worth as quoted / can but think that it
would have been better for him to have
needed that homely but sage advise, 'be
sure that you are right then go.ahead. )"
Mr.. Farnsworth refers to our report of
1898, and goes on to give figures and make
comments thereon and endeavors. In his
dilemma, TO make it appear that the state
assessors are responsible for them.
He would condemn the state assessors fo-
publishing in their annual report the re
turns as required by section Z, chapter lob,
of the Acts of 1891. "to make report to
the Governor and Council of it's proceedings
and include the1 elm a tabular statement OF
all statistics derived from the returns from
local assessors. ~ In said 1893, returns. the
assessors of the city of Portland returned,
to the state assessors, 'town property other
than school buildings. 5,O53.06. Exempt
ed property $4l6,oOOOO," and every item and
every figure in the state assessors report of
that year of the city of Portland, is an
identical copy of the returns of the asses
sors of the city of Portland. Therefore II
there is any blame to be attached to the
state assessors report, it is easy for any
one who reads to see who is responsible for
it.
With the large experience that the asses
sors of Portland have had in city affalrs
and the great wisdom they appear to pos
sess, perhaps I ought not to say they are
not infallible. But Iventure this; assertion.
and think a majority of the taxpayers OF
Portland would agree with me if a they will
take the trouble to carefully examine said
assessors valuation and acquaint them
selves with taxable property in the city,
that Josh Billings was not far out of the
way when he said sit is better to know
less than to know too much that isn't 30.
Now, MI. Editor, dislike a newspaper
controversy veryimuch especially in mat
ter of this kind, yet ] feel that my duty to
my associates as we'll as to myself re-
qnires that should set this matter right IN
the eyes of the taxpayers of Portland.
Mr.. Farnsworth says: 1--WE claim that our
valuation is as high as it possibly shoulo
be.'' All or nearly all of the local asses
sors in the state claim the same. Before
discussing this matter let us go back to the
convention that the state assessors held In
Portland December goth, 1898, and recall
the answer of Mr.. Farnsworth to the ques-
tIon ssdo you assess all real and personal
nroperty upon the same basis?" Answer:
:. Yes we do" Now let4us examine little
Of the property as returned, and see
whether It is at full fair cash value. In
the returns of bank stock alone, as maae
nv Portland assessors we find that 1T was
returned at $40, ,572.OO less than the sevefal
hank cashiers or the bank examiner pro-
nounced it worth. And still Mr.. FARMS
worth thinks that the valuation OF TINS
property as high as it possibly should De.
What is Mr.. Farnsworth's excuse for as
sessing some of the largest mercantlle
houses for less than thirty-three and one
third per cent of their capital stockf
Again, what is MI. Farnsworth's excuse
for assessing some of the finest DlocKs IN
Portland upon valuation paying ten 10
fifteen per cent rental, per annum, when a
large part of the property il the state is
not ma wing five per cent upon its assessed
valuation. and so almost Indefinitely, but
do not wish to weary you with long arti-
Gle this time, and will close with reference
to one more point. as follows:
That the assessors of ,Portlandshave been
over Jealous TO keep their valuation very
much below the other cities, of the state
proportionateIy. l have only to quote from
the following statistics to prove. While the
nineteen cities of this state Outside OF
Portland show an increase, as per asses
sors' returns of said cities. in valuation Of
their property of eight and nine-tenths per
centum from the year of 1891 to 1894, 1nclu-
sive. the city of Portland's returns are as
follows. ssto WITT 1891 $36, ,5S3 1855; 1892 $780,,
942 45: 1888, S36 1928 $50; 1894. S36 $50; and
exempred property ,000 for 1898 and lS94,
,bus showing less valuation in returns OF,
1894 than in either of the three previous
years. T.. 4
In thsee four years the increase in state
valuation upon the entire twenty cites has
been ten and three-tenths per centIm.
In conclusion what say you citizens and
taxpayers of Portland. do you accept this
statement of your city assessors, that the
chief mercantile city of Maine is decreasing
YEARLY in wealth while the other nineteen
cities show an increase Of eight and nine!
tenths per cent, by their own assessors re-
turns for the past four years Are you will
ling to acknowledge that the city of Port
land with all her wealth and enterprise is
becoming poorer each year, while har sister
cities are making such rapid strides in in
creased wealth, and our state showing such
a marked progress. and incl eased valua-
ton? lease this for you to answer.
Very truly yours n
HALL C. BURLEIGH,
Chairman Board of State Assessors.
Augusta, December 30, 1894.