The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-08-10

sessed at So, 900. The quarter OF
block upon which Mr.. Sackett has
erected two fine dwellings and dl-
rectly opposite the court house, is only
assessed at 1926. The vacant lot OF
Mrs. Kieffer, opposite our court house,
is assessed at 500. The Nicollet
county auditor residence, one quarter
block from court house, having
dwelling something like Gen. Pope S
residence, is assessed at 800 for the
lot and 5000 for the building. Mr.
Pope residence is assessed 81, 04O for
the lot and 1850 for the building. A
man in ST. Peter lives in a fine two
story brick residence with wing just
west of the court house block. His
assessment on his house and lot is $751;
A G.. Meyer lives in two story
frame dwelling over three-fourths OF a
mile from the city hall and is assessed
81, O40.
II think that any fair minded man
comparing the assessed value of pro-
perty in Mankato with cities of SINH
lar size in this state will find that the
assessed value of Mankato property is
from 80 to 80 per cent higher. Surely
the way the assessment valuation roll
of Mankato looks it is no place for a
poor man and it is no place for rich
man to live.
"The assessment of Mankato pro-
perty as have given is according to
Assessor Fowler's return made this
year. To raise this assessment nearly
80 per cent as the board has done is in
our opinion unjust and we believe this
board ought to correct this injustice.
If Mankato is to keep her place with
such cities as Faribault and similar
cities she must not be handicapped by
unjust and inequitable taxation. y
Mr.. Daley said that years ago the
assessed valuation of Mankato was
placed high in order to sell bonds.
Previous city councils were to blame.
Now the city is getting on the right
track and is paying off its bonds. The
st. Paul valuation was made high to
sell bonds, and now it has been cut
down $50, 600, 900
| If the Mankato valuation if left as
the board placed it, Faribault will
grow and Mankato will go backward.
Let Mankato pay what similar cities
are paying. Mr.. Daley extended an
invitation to the commissioners to
visit Fairbault and Owatonna with
him. The trip could be made in one
day and would be free of expense to
the commissioners Mankato knows
that it is right and will spend money
to prove it, If necessary it would carry
the matter to the state board of equal
ization, but it realized that it will be
hard to fight there.
1t was not to the interest of the
county to see Mankato go down. If
Mankato fourishes, property in the
country advances.
Com. Killmer asked in regard to the
assessed valuation of farm lands in
Steel county, and Mr.. Daley showed
that it was about the same as in Blue
Earth county.
Com. Borchert said that it was the
duty of the state board and not the
county board to visit cities.
Mr.. Daley said that the state board
is very busy and would think that the
county board, being on the ground
and knowing values, had made just
assessment If it makes general
raise of cities, Mankato would have to
be included, on top of what the county
/ board had done. He had not found
property in other cities that could be
purchased at the assessed valuation,
and he could in Mankato.
Com. Paddock moved that the board
take the trip to Faribault and Ovation
ma tomorrow. He thought the ide a
good one All the city wanted was
Justice and it demanded that.
Com. Borchert thought that the
board would not know any more if it
did go there.
| Com. Killmer said that if reduc-
tion was made on the valuation of the
city, it should be made on the villages
as well. 1t was thought in Amboy
that the valuations there are as high
as in Mankato He had made investi-
cations in regard to Mankato and had
found that the valuation of structures
runs from 90 to % per cent of the cost.
G. L. Benedict's house, probable cost
81, 900, is assessed at $240.
Assessor Fowler said that the house
did not cost over 5000.
Com. Hughes said that the only
question is as to the comparative value
of city property and that of township
and villages. 1t cannot be assumed
what the state board will do. The
valuation of the city has been placed
where it was formerly made by city
officials themselves. The board might
be enlightened by the trip, but he did
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