Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-08-12
PROPERTY VALUE IN IOWA
The Total Assessment Fixed by the
State Board of Review Shows
a Reduction.
IN ROUND NUMBERS IT is $1,000, 600
Loopholes in a New Law-State War;
rants Awarded Rain Benefits
Crops Running Down Rumors =
State Agricultural Society and
Other Notes of Interest.
Especial correspondence.l

Especial Correspondence
Des Moines, Ia, Aug. s.-The state
board of review completed it's work
for the year on Saturday of last week,
fixing the state levy at 3.2 mills for
1898. The total assessment of all prop
erty in the state this year was found
to be $537,166,161, without Mahaska
county, which had not reported, but
which is usually assessed at about So
100000. This total amount given does
not include the tree exemptions,
either, amounting to S4,5oo,o0o. The
total assessment last year was, in
round figures, $3.50, 600 without the
tree exemptions, so the total reduc-
ton in the assessment under the new
Iowa law requiring property to be as
sessed at rs per cent. of its actual
cash value is about $7,00O,O0O.
The state auditor was instructed by
the board of review to collect during
the year such information regarding
live stock as would be required in de-
termining the question as to what pro-
portion of the states tax burden it
should bear. Pending such informa-
ton it was decided to leave the live
stock and personal assessments undis-
turbed for the present year. The
board at its meeting also fixed the
assessment of the telegraph and tele-
phone companies, raising it in the
reighborhood of rs per cent. over the
old figures. The board was required
by the legislature to fix rate of state
levy that would raise 100000 of rev.
enue this year, and, while the rate de-
cided upon appears to provide for ST.
72s,000, it will be remembered that
about two per cent. of the assessment
is usually uncollectable, so the 32-mill
levy should yield just about the neces-
sary amount.
Loophole in n New Law.
Prof. Fl. 2. Summers, the new state
entomologist, was in the city recently
looking up the law relating to his du-
ties in the matter of inspecting Iowa
nurseries where San Jose scale is
feared. His visit developed the fact
that there are a few loopholes in the
new law passed by the legislature last
winter, and Prof Summers is some
what at loss TO know how to proceed.
The law provides that nursery stock
shall be inspected if it is to be shipped
outside the county, while such inspec-
ton is unnecessary if stock is sold
within the county, the supposition be-
ing, apparently, that communities
would look after their own interests.
A Difficult Problem.
Another question has arisen in the
matter, however, reaching its largest
proportions in Des Moines. A seeds
man here handles large line of nurs-
cry stock, buying it from growers in
this county. He raises none himself.
The stock apparently cannot be
brought under the provisions of the
law on tie premises of the growers,
as they are selling it within the coun-
ty, while it is doubtful whether the
scotsman can be made to pay the ex-
pense of an inspection, as he does not
grow it, but simply handles the stock
of regular nurserymen. This condi-
ton has been encountered a t a number
of places, and the solution of the prob
lem is not found as easy as it might
appear at first blush
Shipping of Stock.
Another difficulty encountered, and
which is causing much correspondence
between the state entomologist and
the foreign nurserymen, is that the
law requires all stock shipped into
Iowa to have attached to it certifi-
cate from the state entomologist of
the state from which it comes that he
has inspected it and found it free from
trace of San Jose scale. A large num-
Der of states having hourishing nurs-
cries which have in the past done a
large business in Iowa have no such Of
ficer as state entomologist and no one
properly qualified by law to do the
work required, SO the nursery com
panies have been deluging Prof Sum
mers with inquiries as to how they can
do business in Iowa.
State Warrants Awarded.
State Treasurer Herriott has awards
ed the state warrants to be sold under
his call for bids. the amount to aggre-
gate approximately $30O,Ooo the
money to be used for the payment of
the current expenses of the state insti-
buttons, of which he is made the treas
urer under the new law placing them
under the supervision of the state
board of control. The warrants will
be paid off as fast as the money comes
into the treasury for that purpose,
SO they will have but short terms to
run, as rule, which largely accounts
for the fact that greater discounts
were not offered for them. The law
limits interest on state warrants to
five per cent, but Treasurer Herriott
thought offering them to bidders
might secure better rate, which was
the result. The Valley national bank
Of Des Moines took $4,000 al 1884 to
800, the Home savings bank of Des
Moines took $4,000 at 800, the First
national bank of Mount Pleasant took
$4,000 at four, and the remainder of
the warrants will be divided between
the Second national bank of DUBUQUE,
Iowa state national bank of Sioux City
and Jacob Strauss & Co., of Cleveland,
at four per cent. The bidding will be
seen to have saved the state over one
per cent. ON the entire amount.
fnmense Corn Crop.
Director Sage, of the Iowa weather
and crop service, says in his weekly
bulletin that the recent rains have
been of great benefit to corn, potatoes,
grass aud all vegetables. The corn
crop is now considered assured, and
Mr.. Sage believes il will reach he mao
nificent total of nearly 3oO,ooo,ooo