The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-19
Increased Only 10 per
cent in Ten Years.
This Regarded as Very Conser-
yatiye Estimate.
tsPEcIAL TO THE PnEss.I


Augusta, January ls.-Representatiye
Webb of Portland has received from Gen.
Francis Fessenden OF Portland a commu-
nication containing many interesting
statistics regarding the valuation OF the
city Of Portland, making comparisons
with many other cities throughout the
country, showing that Portland stands
among the weaIthlest cities OF the Unit
cd States according to the population.
lie closes by saying: ''It is an intoler-
able injustice that the State Board of
Assessors should increase Portland's val
uation, and Portland have no appeal
Regarding this declaration, ex-Mayor
Pottle OF Lewiston, who Is one OF the
state assessors, said today TO the PRESS
representative;
1.-The valuation commission Of 1890,
composed OF one member from each coun-
ty OF the state, and OF which the Hon.
Hiram knowlton OF Portland was chair
man, placed the valuation OF Portland
at Ss7, ,956. .s0S, and OF Deering. subsequent
ly annexed 20 Portland, at 50. SA054, a
total kof Sal, "a .s6s,a increasing PortIapd's
valuation 6 l-2 per cent and behring's
10 l-2 par cent above the city assessors
valuation. The valuation placed upon
Portland was conceded to be a most con-
servative one, and 1t Is matter OF his
tory that there was much difficulty and
weeks OF delay before a conclusion was
reaoned, a considerable portion Of the
commission believing that these figures
did not fully represent the actual value
of the taxable property Of the city.
"This was ten years ago. In the clos
ing year OF the decade 1909, the state as
SCISSORS fixed the valuation OF Portland at
S47, ,62I, 3l5, or 10 Ier cent greater than
the valuation made in 1890 by the yalu-
alton commission, and l submit to the
people of Portland and of this state who
have observed Portland s progress during
the past decade, that 10 per cent is
most conservative estimate OF the city's
growth In wealth during the past ten
years.
"Their population has increased 20 per
cent during this period. The assessors
of the city OF Portland in 1900 fonnd
II 1.2 per cent more property than their
predecessors found in 1880, but the state
assessors, in a spirit Of conservatism,
judged that 10 per cent was reasonable
and equitable increase to make for their
growth covering ten years II General
Eessenden will take the trouble TO look
below the surtace,I do not believe he will
desirs any appeal from the valuation
made by the state assessors, even II the
law permitted 1t.
n4f n
marked imprsyement during the past ten
years, especially in the last fiye years.
In Deering, which has been annexed,
large tracts OF land which in 1890 where
bars aud unocoupled, arS now covered
with nne residences, this section bear
ing the same relation to Portland that
Brooklyn does to New York.
s'The commercial interests of Portisnd
have taken on new life. Portland hsr-
pcr, one of the finest in the world. is
alive with ships from every peri. Port
land as a wholesale distributing center
grows stronger year by yesr There has
heen a marxed increase In the retail
trade, the six railroad lines RAINING In
to the citysand their excellent street rail-
way service reaching a large population
who make.their purchases In Portland.
In soms sections of the city notably Con-
gress strset. from Monument squars TO
LonRfellow square, there has been a
marked Increase In real estate values
In 1890, Portland was served by horse
railroad, rslie OF former generations
Now they possess street railroad which
compares favcrabiy with those Of The
best cities In the country.
''The hotel business of Portland Is
nearly double what it was ten years ago
Their islands down the harbor are among
the most attractive spots that the pleas