Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-16
FACT W. FANcy.


Anybody who has moved through the
halls of the State capitol during legis-
lhtivc session, or who circulated to any
degree through the State. knows what q
spread has been attained BY the belief
that the owners OF timberlands In this
state do not nenrly pay their proportion
al share Of the taxes. Every winter In
Augusta hears some remarks with this
idea us their foundation; probably o fair
majority of the citizens of. Maine have
been led into a similar understandings
misunderstanding might be more appro-
pirate.
Concerning this condition Of things,
Col. j. w. Porter, chairman of the Ban
gor registration board and long acQuaint-
ed with the history and the government
OF this State, said to u Bangor CONNER
cial reporter on Saturday morning:
THE fallncy. fs curiously persistent;
suppose It results from popular ignorance
Of the subject. l have often thought that
the newspapers ought to throw a little
light upon the matter.
Levi Bradley was land agent from 1912
to 1917; during that time was present at
an auction sale OF lands by the State and
bought lot OF land. my first purchase.
l own 1t now. / have attended all the
great auction sales of lands since, and
have never seen a more representative
body Of Maine landowners than was pres
ent at the auction sale of the Manson
lands at the board of trade rooms In Ban
gor on Wednesday, Sept. ].
The quantity of property sold was not
large. but these lands had been carefully
inspected by the best explorers in the
State: bidders knew just what they were
about. Buyers think they got what they
bought. There can be no question but
what this sale was at the true value of
the lands as near as men can Judge. l
can give you an account Of the sales COM
pareu with the State valuation now on
the lands; 1t suggests rather high es-
innate on the part of the State assessors,
and knocks the old complaint OF unequal
taxation in the head.
Lester Dwinel for instance, bought
onc-half of the south half of township II,
range 49, Aroostook county, for 77Ia cents
an acre. the State valuation is $l.25 an
acre.
William Engel bought into township l.
known as Wytopitlock, and gave SEQ an
acre. the State valuation is $375 All acre.
John +. Weber bought one-half of
the east half OF township 5, range 0. in
Piscataquis county for S2h2 cents an acre;
the State valuation Is 500 an acre.
Charles Palmer and Llewellyn Powers
bought one-third of township 8. range 3.
Piscataquis county for sl.6s an acre; the
State valuation is $l.75 an acre.
Thompson and Baldwin bought a
fraction In township Z. range 3. Piscata-
quis county for H.o4 an acre; the State
valuation is 1.50 an acre.
John Cassidy bought into township /.
range 4; Somerset county for $110 an
acre, tHe state NaiudtlOn Is $..W an acre.
"A. 5. Garland bought an interest in
township 2. range 4, county of Somerset.
East Moxie town, for 500 an acre; the
State valuation Is 500 an acre.
John F. Webber bought an interest In |
township 4. range 5. Penobscot county. |
for "A cents an acre: on this the State |
valuation is $.25 an acre. more than |
twice the price at auction.
Frank ii. Holyoke bought an interest |
IN township ). range S. Penobscot county |
f..,nfS e1,a
IS $l.15 an acre.
ION the whole these land owners seem
in fair way to pay their part of the
taxes to the State