Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-07-11

4 roads, II left with the executive council,
might be changed from March to July,
so that the whole subject should be be-
/ fore the council for adjustment at the
same time.
| I'm support OF these motions submit
the following considerations: 1t is the
\ avowed desire of all good citizens that
the burden of taxation be made to rest
| equitably upon all classes of property.
IT is not essential that any one class be
| assessed at Its full market value pro-
Ndied other property be assessed propor-
tionateiy low. Between 1886 and 1890
special attention was given to this sub
Ject, and what was then believed and
conceded to be an equitable adjustment
between railroads and other classes OF
property was established, and there was
| no one then left who SO much as pro-
| fessed to believe that corporations ha
been favored in the adjustment Since
then the number OF incorporated towns
| IN the state has increased more than As
per cent and their population has in
creased more than AZ per cent Durin.,
the same period more permanent homes
have been erected, more factories have
been built, more substantial business
blocks erected, and there has been a
greater advance in the market value OF
farm lands and. farm animals. with a
larger increase in bank deposits, and
more wealth has been accumulated in.
every way than in any other period in
the history of the state. The reports of
county auditors furnished at the request
OF this board discloses the fact that
there were 1888 acres of farm lands
q cd N, ff Mo cr-
gregate consideration of S22S,7s7, an av-
earge of $l4.57 per acre; and that these
| Identical lands were assessed at $1O4 1877.
or s6.7O per acre. or al 46.5 per cent of
| their market value. There were con-
veyed up to March l, 1881. 24,224 acres
for an aggregate consideration of 1895.
s2s an average of 1858 per acre; and
these identical lands were assessed at
cent of their actual value. AT the close
Of this period of equitable adjustment
between railroads and lands. there were
sold up to March /, 1891. 24977 acres for
an aggregate consideration of s6sl l,3S9,
an average of s27.2s per acre: and these
| identical lands We're assessad at s2ss.03o.
or sll. A per acre. or 4t9 per cent of their
ectual value. The same reports show
that there were conveyed up to March L.
of this year. 9S.2S6 acres for an aggre-
gate consideration of 81 $50. .6sS, an aver
age of SA4 per acre, and these Identical
| lands were assessed at ss70,727, or 1927
per acre. or at II per cent of their mar
ket value.
| Thus it appears that the average
selling price of such lands as wer. sold
| as of March l, in these years respect
/ lively, increased from 1891 to 1901 81 per
i cent. and that the assessed valuation of
these indentical lands thus sold in
! creased more than 81 per acre. or 20 per
/ cent. 1891 they were assessed at prac-
tically ~ per cent. and in this veesr hey
/ have been assessed atoa per cent or
/ their selllng price. 1t should be borne
I in mind In tilis coBI.+ctlon that the most
/ valuable lands of the stare are not sold.
I The best farms are not on the market 1t
is manife-tly and Unfair and misleading
! to compare the market value ofthe lands
4 that are sold with the assessed value OF
\ the lands that are not sold. TIL. data
! gathered by this council compares act
uai sales with the assessment of the
4 identical lands sold When 1t is RECALLED
that the cheaper classes of property are
always assessed relatively high il is sa fe
\ TO assume that the farm lands Of Iowa
are assessed a less than 20 per cent of
their market valre. The press recently
! contained an account OF a tract of land
! purchased by an honored citizen, who
/ was chief executive Of the state al the
! time of the purchase which has annual
ly paid 20 per cent dividend aud in
thirteen years advanced more than 1 600
per cent. No property In the world
can be compared with Iowa farm lands
as a dividend payer. or as showing ap-
probation in value. except 1t be a few
monopolies and occasional mineral
lands. The railroads doing business In
Iowa in 1899 their most prosperous year.
paid less than I per cent dividends.
During the four years when this adjust
1 ment of relative values between rail-
4 roads and other classes of property was
being made railroad mileage in Iowa in
creased sA miles, II per cent In the
Il twelve years since said adjustment the
mileage has increased 1.13S miles This
4 increase has been in branch lines of
II comparatively little value. Certainly
this Increase in mileage has not more
than kept pace with the new and i'm
proved homes necessary to accommo-
i date 100000 Increased urban population.
Neither has the increased value OF rail
d roads kept pace with the increase
value of farm lands. Nevertheless. the
j proportion of taxes exied against farm
lands town lots and live stock was new
er as low as during ne last three years.
The assessment of the last TWO years
placed the highest proportion upon rail-
roads that was ever imposed upon this
class OF property yet if my opinion shall
prevail. this relative proportion will be
slightly increased
The Importance OF having the assess
ment of all classes II property before
the board at the same time is manifest
and no argument, l think. need be sub
mtted."
What passed in the executive council
on presentation of these figures and this
argument is known only to the mem
bers but 1t is certain there was a divi-
sion of sentiment and considerable dis
cusslon. Inasmuch as it was the easiest
way to effect the equalization of values
the plan of the governor was substan-
TALLY agreed to and the reduction made
as he suggested. Attention was called
afterwards TO the TACT that the COVER
nor's contention was that actual sales
last March We're assessed for this yea,
at 81 per cent when n fact the figures
show that the assessment with which