The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-18
HEARING IN THE TAX CASE.
Several Witnesses Testify. The Sitting at
Charlotte Adjourns Today.
Especial to News and observer.)

Nop6Cldl W NSWo anu OUoSIN6I,J
Charlotte, N. c., August 17.-At the
railroad tax case hearing here today
Captain Everett Rockingham was the first
witness calleA He denied that for a
number of years the property in Rich
mond county had been valued at two
thirds to three -fourths of it's actual
value. He mentioned several tracts
which had been thus undervalued and
went somewhat into detail in regard to
different townships in the county. He
also mentioned several pieces of property
sold for more than the tax valuation
Upon cross examination by Colonel
Hinsdale he said the rule Of undervalua-
ton by assessors did not apply to personal
property except live stock; that money
and solvent credits were listed for their
full value. other personal property like
wise listed at full valuation. Farming lands
in the county, he said, were influenced
in selling price by the value of the money
crop, and when cotton was low lands
were lower, and of slower sale. In June,
'95, and June, 49, when the last two as
sessments of land in the State were
made, cotton was extremely low, between
five and six cents, and there is no profit
in cotton at this price. He stated further
that lands when sold at public sale for
cash frequently did not bring as much as
when sold at private sale on time; that
sanGhill lands. comprising about two
thirds of the county, were worth fifty
cents to one dollar an acre. the remand
er constituting the farming lands were
worth seven dollars an acre.
Captain DeRosset, examined by Mr..
Rountree, of Wilmington, testified to the
differentiation Of certain lots in Will
mington, some of which sold for more
than sums at which they were assessed,
also that assessors in 1899 assessed prop
erty in Wilmington at nearly full value,
but the county commissioners made q.
general reduction all along the line to
what he considered about three-fourths
value. He mentioned several valuable
lots still assessed for more than their
actual value, and stated that bank stock
in Wilmington had been assessed at about
three-fourths of its real value. He said
on cross examination by Mr.. Pou that j.
d. Bellamy offered to sell all his real
estate at the tax valuation but did not
think the offer made in earnest
The next and last witness, A. L. Nc
Donald, Sanford, Moore county formerly
of Richmond county was examined by
Captain Price. He stated that real
property had been assessed in Richmond
county at 60-66 2-3 per cent selling value;
that the rule of differentiation did not
apply to any personal property except live
stock, although individuals generally gave
in personal property at about two-thirds
of its real value; that solvent credits and
cash on hand were always given in at
their full value He mentioned number
of instances, six or seven, of property
which had been sold for more than it's
tax valuation. Upon cross examination
by Colonel Hinsdale he was required to
examine the tax lists present, and desig-
nate such tracts in the sandhills prop
erty as were not worth as much or more
than the tax valuation. He named fifty
or sixty tracts, which had not been un-
dervalued. He said, however, this was
but a small proportion of the entire
property of the county, and there might
be many more such tracts assessed at
their full value with which he was not
acquainted:
There will be three other illnesses ex-
amined tomorrow when the sitting at
Charlotte will adjourn.