Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-02-01
ACTION TAKEN
By Board Of Trade on the Question Of Tax
Rates.

days ago the city Board of Trade met
in the quarters of the Marietta Club
last night for the purpose of taking
action in regard to reducing the valua-
tlon made by the Board of Decennia!
Appraisers, of property in the city.
Some 25 members of the Board re-
sponded to the call and the resulting
meeting and discussion of The point at
issue was animated and productive OF
results which will at least reoren the
consideration of the State Board of
Equalization even if no reduction of
taxes be secured.
The first business to come before lie
meeting was the recommendation
made by the chairman that a COM
mittee he appointed to investigate the
facilities of the M. G. & C. R.. R. tn
! accommodate the many passengers
who come to the city from points along
che line. 1t was the general opinion
THAT the time given the residents of
the section of country tributary to this
road for transacting business in the
city before the return train was due,
is wholly inadequate. Upon motion
of Mr.. Harry Chamberlain the chair
man was empowered to appoint COM
mittee Of three with instructions to
wait upon Mr.. England, manager of
the NJ. c. g. G. R. r.. and respect
ful'y suggest that the roads facilities
for travel be improved. The motion
carried and Messrs. Chamberlain,
Stanley and Merydith were appointed
on the committee.
The primary object of the meeting
was then taken up and a full discus
sion Of the various phases of the situa-
tion was had.
Those attending the meeting are
representative business men of the
city and their opinions may be taken
as fairly indicative of the sentiment
prevailing among propert y owners
within the city's limits. Without ex-
ception one and all agreed that the val
uation Of property in Marietta is too
| high and that decrease in the tax
| able value of buildings and lots should
be reduced. This conclusion was ar
rived at by the presentation of the fol-
| lowing arguments, which were partial
| ly deduced from experiences of indi-
viduals and partly from the records of
| nth ,niti pf
portionate size to Marietta. The val
uations in the townships, as is shown
by the tax duplicate, have been de-
creased, while the rate has been great
ly increased in the city. Again the
appraisers in the city were governed
to some extent by the prevailing
prices of real estate.
In number of instances buildings
were put even above the cost of con
struction. Old buildings have been
appraised at a higher figure than was
the practice in 1890, and, as in the
case of old structures, the present val
uation will stand for 10 years while
new buildings are appraised every
year. A change was deemed highly
advisable.
Manufacturing plants will be deter
red from locating in the community
by the burden of taxation. Great
discrepancy exists in the different
wards which are either contiguous
or situated in close proximity.
Mr.. Leeper finally brought the mat
ter to a vote by moving that a com
mittee of three be appointed to confer
with the State Board of Equalization
at Columbus in order to effect the de-
sired reconsideration of the Decennial
Boards values. The motion prevail
ed and Messrs, w. H. LeeDer, John H.
Riley and j. H. Grafton were named
TO represent the Board of Trade.
Mr.. A. d. Alderman stated that In
his opinion the committee should con-
sist of five members. as better results
could be obtained from larger num-
ber of delegates. Many influences
should be brought to bear on the prop
er authorities in order to achieve re-
suits with dispatch and certainty.
A. D. Alderman and s. j. Hatha-
way were added to the committee.
The proposition of holding ban
ouet, ito which business men OF the
city were to be invited, was looked up
ON with favor and a motion to appoint
a committee OF Ave in whose hands the
management of the entire affair could
be entrusted was carried. The chair
reserved until later date the appoint
ment of the committee. The com
mittee will also determine the time