The leader., 1901-10-23
FIVE AND AHALF MILLIONS.
Large Increase Shown in the
Personal Assessment.
Five and one.half millions.

Five and One-half millions.
The increase in the personal assess
ment rolls of the seventy five counties
in Mississippi for the taxes of 1901, ag-
gregates about five and one half mil
lion dollars.
All the counties have reported and a
few technical errors are being corrected
in the Auditors office by Mr.. w. W.
Simonton, who has charge of this de-
partment. The statement showing the
increase by counties will be made pub
lie tomorrow.
When the estimate was made in the
Clarion Ledger six weeks ago, based on
the returns then received from only a
small number of counties, that the in
crease in the personal assessment of
Mississippi this year would exceed five
million dollars. many persons were in
clined to regard the figures with in
credulity, especially so in view of the
fact that an increase of S2S, 100000 had
been made in the personally and realty
assessment of the previous year. The
figures to be announced by the Audi
tor tomorrow will amply verify the es-
innate.
The recapitulation of the assessment
rolls was a matter of considerable sur
prise around the State House, and sew
eral of the officials acknowledged that
it was even beyond their most sanguine
expectations. They were looking for a
good sized increase, but they did not
anticipate figure of five and one-half
millions.
LAST YEARS ASSESSMENT.
The personal assessment roll of Mis-
sisippi last year Amounted to S57, 400
1873, against 4S,308.640 for the year
1899, an increase of 1904 sos. The
1900 assessment broke all records, and
throughout the State the greatest dill
gence was displayed by assessors to
make good showings for their counties.
The search for solvent credits was es-
pecially dligent, and much of the in
crease was attributed to this source,
collateral and securities having been
placed on the rolls which had been es-
Gaping taxation for many years.
The realty assessment also showed a
gratifying increase, the total being
$l3l ,315, S2l, against 81 3,j19,9l6 for the
year 1899, All increase of 81, 735, 800.
The realty roll remains the same this
year, as there was no assessment of
land and taxes will be collected on
last years figures, $l3l, 3l5,S2l.
BASIS FOR COLLECTION.
MiSSisSippi'S State tax roll on realty
and personally this year will aggregate,
in round numbers over S222 100000, and
on this sum will be collected about ST.
100000 in taxes This, it should be
borne in mind, does not include the
privilege and insurance taxes which
will give big increase of the above
named sum. The levy is six mills,
which is for 1899, an increase of S7l2,-
49, This year a reduction of one half
mill from the levy of 1899.
RAILROAD INCREASE.
While the increase in personally
property is being mentioned, it is we'll
to refer to the railroad assessment of
1901 Last year Mississippi assessed
her railroad, telegraph and sleeping
car companies at 27,0l97S8 against
2G,337,353 for 1899, an increase of
SIP This year the railroad assess.
ment is $500, 230, against S27, O49,76
last year, an increase of Sl,245, 4i2.
Br .etly summarized the total assess
ment for Mississippi this year will be
nearly So, 10000 i'll excess of that of
last year, and this means an increase of
about $1,000 in revenue for the State.
Increases will also be shown from all
other revenue sources, and the fact is
strikingly demonstrated that Missis-
sippi was never in a better financial
condition than at present.
THE COUNTY ROLLS.
The increase this year also illustrates
the fact that Mississippi is rapidly
growing State, The rolls of the coun-
ties show that this increase has not
been confined to any one particular
section, but has been general in all
parts Of the commonwealth, the
smaller counties sharing equally in
the prosperity with the larger ones.
Many of the hill counties, in fact, eX
hibjt larger ratio of increase than
the rich delta counties. - clarion Let
ger