Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-18

time. I can hardly suppose this increase in
the valuation was solely because property
had increased in value. but must have been
to get more revenue for the state.
The revenues of the state. which are men,
toned in the auditors letter, are of moneys
which the state may use and appropriate
dollars Of Special funds that come into the
treasury, such as S2G4.OO earnings from PEN
itentiary; $1l0.0 900 from the asylum at st.
Joseph. &C. eharged for board and care of pa
form school for boys. There is nearly a
hundred thousand dollars in the treasury
who have died in this state. Look over the
list. l have given Mr.. Pratt, the secretary.
a copy. The estate you are looking for to
come from the old country may be IN the
state treasury at Jefferson City.
Reasons IF Increased Assessments.
The following letter from the state audit
or explains the reasons prompting the In
crease by the state board:
Treasury Department of Missouri,
Office of State Auditor.
City of Jefferson. Jan. IL, 1898.
Hon. C. W. Clarke, ZIG Delaware Street.
Kansas City. Mo.
Ny Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of your let
ter of the 112thinst and inclose you herewith
slips showing the per cent of increase made
by the state board of equalization In the
several counties of the state. In reading
the letters and figures opposite the coun-
ties. you will understand the authorizations
and figures as follews; . p s,i you rss will Pea. read
sonal Property" and the figures following
each indicate the per cent of increase made
by the state board Of equalization. | quote
you result of these increases as follows:
Real and personal property as returned
by assessors. 1888. 074. 457.
Increase by board on real estate, $685.
76.971; increase by board on personal prop
Total as equalized by The board, s9I4.-
1856. sos.
These figures, as you will observe. relate
only to the item of Real and Personal
Property" as given in my letter of the 18th
inst, and relate to the assessment made in
1896 as equalized and adjusted for the taxes
OF 1897.
1 deem 1t unnecessary to enter into a dis
ed the board to make the increase above
referred to, further than to say that the
aggregate returned by the assessors for
taxes of 1897 fell short of that returned and
equalized for taxes of 1896 something like
81. 000.O 900. The assessment of the city of ST.
Louis; for instance: showed an increase
slightly in excess Of 100000 and a few of
the counties likewise showed an increase
over the assessment for taxes of 1896: the
others showed a decrease, and the in
creases by the board were intended to bring
them up approximately to what they were
the year before.
The state board of equalization. sitting
for the assessment and equalization of the
property of railroad. bridge and telegraph
companies. in which it has original juris-
diction. increased the aggregate value Of
these classes of property dncluding the cars
of private and independent car lines) over
that for taxes of 1896. So, 4Oi. All.
I trust the information given herein will
answer your purpose; II 1t does not, kindly
advise me and I shall take pleasure in
experimenting it with such additional in
formation as you may desire.
Yours very truly.
(Signed.) J.. M. SEIBERT.
State Auditor.