The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-12
FOURTH CLASS COUNTY
Deer Lodge Advances One Num-
Der This Year.
THE ASSESSORS REPORT
Shows the Assessed Valuation This
Year Is Over Eight Million An
Increase of Over Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars.

George S. Miller. the county assessor,
completed his report of the assessment
Of Deer Lodge county last evening, and
has forwarded it to the state board of
equalization in Helena. Mr.. Miller's re-
port makes a very creditable showing.
1t shows an increase over the valua-
ton of last year of s525,124. The fig
ures may be changed some, however,
before the taxes are collected, as both
the state and county boards of equal
ization have to act upon the assessment.
The total property valuation of Deer
Lodge county, including real estate and
personal property, exclusive of railroads
and railroad rolling stock, which are y
portioned to the counties by the state
board, is 81, 459, COL. The railroad proper
ty in this county last year was valued
by the state board at s62l. 800. That is to
say, the right of way was valued at
that sum. This year Mr.. Miller has lit
tie doubt the railroad valuation will be
increased and he expects to secure the
a~pportionment to this county of the strip
of Great Northern railway. which, ac-
cording to the government map crosses
the northern portion of Deer Lodge
county, but which has heretofore been
credited to other counties. He also this
year expects to get an increase allowed
on account of railroad rolling stock.
However. should the railroad valuation
be put in this year at the same figures
as last, 1t will bring the total assessed
valuation up to $s,OS0. 921.
This will have the effect of advancing
Deer Lodge county n number" as
they say in the navy. AT present, under
the assessment of last year, the county
is a fifth class one; now it will belong
to the fourth class. The dividing line
between the two classes is the valuation
of IS, 200. 900. 1t will be seen that Mr..
Miller has a margin of $50, 600 TO niger
WITH" as the boys say.
MI. Miller is very confident that the
boards of equalization Will not cut the
assessed valuation down any, as all real
estate is left at the figures of last year.,
except, of course, where improvements
have been added. There was no board
of appraisers this year Under the codes
counties Of Deer Lodges class do not
have any. Mr.. Miller therefore judged
that the value of lands as set last year
would, as a general thing, hit the mark
now.
In the two years that Mr.. Miller has
been assessor, either he or the county,
or perhaps both. have made a good
showing. Since he took office, less than
two years ago, the assessed valuation of
the county has been increased 81. $50. 921.
This is a pretty good showing for both
the county and the assessor.
Raising the rating of the county from
a fifth to a fourth class county will also
raise the salaries of some of the coun-
ty officers. 1t will not affect those who
are at present holding office, but will
touch those who may be elected this
fall. Under the rating of a fifth class
county the salaries are as follows:
Treasurer, 81, 500 per year; sheriff, 81, $50;
assessor, 1880; county clerk, $4,000:
clerk of court, $4,000; county attorney,
81, 900; superintendent of schools, 81, 500.
AS a fourth class county there will be
no increase in the salary of treasurer,
sheriff, county attorney and superin-
tendent of public instruction. The Of
fees that will be raised are: Assessor
to $1,000; county clerk, to 81, 500; clerk
Of court, to $500. Il. J. Corcoran, the
present clerk of court, II is understood
will not be benefited by the raise, as he
holds Office for two years and a hall
longer, and an officers emoluments car
be neither increased nor decreased dur
ing his term of office. The difference in
classification will not affect the deputies
which is cause for some regret-at the
court house. The deputies as a rule at.
tempt TO taxi all the credit for tAe ad-
ministration with which they are con
nected, and II is believed would not re-
fuse an increase in salary.