Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-16
WILD LANDS,
State Assessors Have Begun
Fixing the Valuation.
Wish To Adjust and Equa|ize Taxa
ton on Such Property.
The Pulp Mill and the Lumber Manu-
factory.


Unless some new material for the
manufacture Of paper is discovered to
take the place of wood, the value OF
these woodlands is destined to steadily
and largely increase.
This is the statement made by the
State assessors in South Paris, the
other day, when the board, including
Hon. Otis Hayford of Canton, chair
man. eX-Mayor George Pottle of Lewis
ton, and Hon. F. NJ. Simpson of Ban
gor, held it's first session of the year at
the oxford county buildings. This
meeting was largely to secure irforma-
ton such as will enable them to adjust
and eoualize the valuation of wild
lands.
The wild lands Of Maine which con-
stitute about 43 per cent. of the area of
the State. are the unincorporated lands,
YOU will remember. These wild lands
are a great source Of wealth to the
State, and have been so recognized
since this territory was first settled
The approximate value today is quoted
at twenty millions of dollars.
Let me tell you u little story" says
Mr.. Pottle.
Years ago, vixen Maine was a part
of Massachusetts,, and not explored
save along the shores, the men who had
been given grants from Massachusetts
and England, made partial investiga-
tions and explorations; later in re-
ports of this section of New England
they gave great emphasis to the i'm
mense wealth of the forest, where were
untold quantities of ship timber yet
standing on the stump.
When Captain MOWatt appeared be-
fore Portland in 1915 and gave the in
habitants two hours time to remove
the sick and the infirm before he
destroyed the city, that uItimatum
was given out from the fact that a YES
sci was partially constructed, and
wanting masts and spars, which the
loyal settlers refused to SELL"
WILD lands il Maine are located in
eight counties-OXford, Franklin
Somerset, Piscataquis, Aroostook,
Penohscot, Hancock and Washington.
Aroostook, the largest county i'll the
State, with an area of $500 square
miles. has approximately three million
acres of wild lands. The timber va
ries. Hardwood ridges, there are, with
groWths of spruce, cedar and some
pine. Piscataquis county has $3.50
square miles Of area, with two million
acres Of wild lands. Somerset's I'M
incorporate lands include about one
and threc-quarters millions acres. The
average If Tho remaining five towns is
Il half million acres each The total is
approximately 9,400, 900 acres.
The original surveys of these lands
were very liberal. In the days when
land was not worth very much, this
statement was true of farms as well as
town sites.
Il have in mind a farm in Androscog-
gin county," says Mr.. Pottle. 1T was
one of the original hundred acre lots.
Surveyed few years ago, it was found
to contain IL acres, p per cent. more
than the original survey"
1t is extremely difficult to ascertain
accurate records of the acreage of wild
Ian Is. This is especially true of
Ringham's Purchase, the total area of
the territory in the Maine Register be-
ing quoted as 23,040 acres.
Riley Plantation has for long time
been given an area of 25,20l acres.
This year, through information from
one of the explorers, the figures have
been changed to $4,000 acres.
"But of course in the land office at
Augusta" put in Mr.. Simpson here,
we get reliable information of the
acreage of large portions of wild lands,
because they are surveyed by the State
largely and the records are kept at the
Capitol
Regarding the growth with which
these lands are timbered, pine, as fal
as it exists, is of course the most
valuable.
Years ago." says Mr.. Pottle, when
whole townships of land were sold
practically the only valuation takeI
into account was the pine. In the days
of hand working solely, pine entered
principally into the building of ships as
well as every form of hOuse-finishing
while spruce was considered of little
value. But in these days of improved
ma chnery, as well as pulp mills
spruce has climbed steadily up the
ladder Of value, and, being used for al
most every purpose, is becoming Of
more worth than almost any othe.
wood.
Cedar, in great demand for shingles
and railroad ties, is in Aroostook coun-