The Republican journal., 1903-12-31
NAMES PROSPERITY.
Report Of the Assessors Shows Increases Of
Property Greater than in Any Previous
Year.

Report Of the Assessors Shows Increases of
Property Greater than in Any Previous
Year.
The 18th annual report of the State
board of assessors, George Pottle, F.
NJ. Simpson, Otis Hayford, has been
made to the governor and council.
The report says in part:
The statistics herewith submitted in
dicate general prosperity and progress
throughout the State. The returns Of
valuations as they existed on April 1,
1903. received from the cities, towns
and plantations of the State, show a
total increase in real estate amounting
to $5,S1s,275, and in personal estate
| S., ,663, ,O64, a total gain of $S,4S1, ,339
above the amount returned in 1902.
This is greater increase than has
been recorded in any one year since
this board was established in 1894. In
| the 20 cities of the State which contain
an aggregate valuation amounting to
| $144, 3O3, 914, the total increase is ~, 409,-
| 500. while the towns and plantations
| with combined valuation of $172, ,673,-
92O. contribute gain of $6,071, ,S39. In
other words, the 20 cities, with 45.5 per
cent. of the total valuation contribute
2S.4 per cent. of the total increase,
while the towns and plantations with
545 per cent of the total valuation
show 71.6 per cent. of the total gain in
valuation over 1902. The total number
of polls returned is 200, 1873, an increase
of 1870 above the number returned in
1902, indicating fair increase in popu-
lation.
Nearly every item of personal prop
erty shows a total gain over 1902. In
| money at interest and taxable securi-
| ties the increase is 1928, ,S54; stock in
trade $500, 521; bank stock O,9O6;
trust and banking companies stock
s166, ,4O4; logs and lumber sl96, 264;
wood and bark, S36,677: carriages,
$S,911; musical instruments, SS4, ,013;
| and furniture, $43,9S4 Corporation
| stocks not classified show loss IN valu-
alton of $4,000, and the valuation OF
| shipping has decreased s49,0Os. Bi-
cycles, a disappearing class of proper
| ty, are valued at S64,613 less than in
1902.
| The valuation of live stock is S693, :
| 5S4 greater than in 1902. The gains
and losses in number are as follows
| Horses and colts gain of 1887; oxen,
?, 2,527; COWS, 1O,1S1; swine, 5, 465 Sheep
three-year-old cattle show loss of 3d.
S3S from last year.
The value of property exempted from
taxation has decreased S206, 500. In
other words this amount, exempted
from taxation in 1902, is included in the
taxable lists the present year.
In 1896 the total valuation of proper
ty exempted from taxation was return
ed as So, ,124, 304. Since then there has
been steady decrease and the amount
returned the present year is 81, 1921, 40
The valuation Of railroad property
liable to local taXtion shows a gain of
$14S,515 over 1902 Street railroad
property S56,93O and the property of
municipalities, not including school
buildings, shows gain of 1858, 1873.
Two hundred and thirty-one of the
municipalities report lower tax rate
than in 1902; 1873, higher rate, and 45
have the same rate as in 1902
The average rate of taxation for the
whole State for 1908 is, approximately,
S2O.25 on each $1,000 valuation. The
I.average rate of taxation in the cities is
somewhat higher being S21.21 on each
81 900 valuation.
The total municipal Indebtedness of
the cities, towns and plantations is
S134, 900 less than IN 1902. One hundred
and sixty-three of the municipalities
report decrease in their public debt;
1O5 have increased their debt; Al report
the same debt aud 100 are free from
debt several reporting surplus in
their treasury. The combined public
! debt of the cities, towns and planta-
tions is 273 per cent of the total valua-
ton. None of the cities are free from
debt, their combined public indebted
ness being 4.33 per cent of their total
valuation. In numerous instances a
considerable portion of the municipal
indebtedness represents the ownership
of public utilities from which a good
revenue is received so that the debt to
this extent is not burden.
The corporation taxes assessed by
this board are in the aggregate 552,-
373.37 more than in 1902. We append a
comparative table showing amounts
assessed for the two years.