Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-04
the EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WORK.

b The executive council in Its read
dustunent OF taxable values seems TO
have followed closely the suggestion OF
the Gpinnell lawyer-farmer b. w.
Norris, as to the most equitable man
ner of obtaining actual values OF farm
lands in the counties. His suggestion
before the council was that fgures Oh
the sales of land in each county should
be the basis of valuation and that TO
offset the imitation of prices consequent
upon the land boom that has obtalnea
In Iowa these figures should be reduced
about 20 per cent. The difficulty which
confronted the council was not the
raising Of state valuations, but the
equalization of the burden Of taxation
between the counties of the state. In
fact the adjusted value of all farm
above the valuations fixed by local as
SCISSORS as reported by the county audi
tors There were counties like Calhoun,
where the valuation had been set at
SE0.S0, manifestly too high and
others like Taylor Were as manifestly
too low. Calhoun was properly low
cred to s46.TS and Taylo, boosted from
$685. to $A063. Hamilton county's
valuation of s50.57 was lowered to
S47.GS, q. proper adjustment of valuation
to the wet lands Of that county. Inc
Norris plan of equalization seems to
have been followed thruout with fair
ness and Justice. 1t was practicable
and equitable and placed the burdens
OF taxation where they justly belong.
Nhe differences were practically wiped
out by this method, only seven counties
having been passed without change.
The impression is not to be conveyed
to the agricuIturists that there has been
any Aotable increase in valuations OF
farm lnnds made by the executive
council The actual value of all farm
lands in the state as adjusted by the
council is $1,457.54S,730. This is an in
crease over the county auditors returns
OF but 81, o24, 703, or an increase OF about
two millions ON returns of more than
one thousand four hundred millions.
This total stands about 17.2 per cent
above the valuation of 1901 and will be
considered by fair-minded farmers as
below rather than above the actual In
crease in sale prices. The total valua-
ton Of all kinds OF property will show
an increase of the difference between
s2,2s5,S61, 564 in 1902 and $2,551,941.476
in 1908. The taxable valuation of all
Iowa property at one-fourth of the
actual valuation will show an increase
OF s65,1i4,97S. The general rate of tax
alton will be lowered thru this increase
as indicated by the one-haf mill de-
crease in the levy for state purposes.
about 20 per cent higher than in 1901.
There is nothing unreasonable about
the increase. Iowa real estate has In
creased by leaps and bounds within
the past few years. This increase has
not been confined to farm lands. but to
all kinds of real property. City and
village property has been boosted by
the marvellous activity in building
which has obtained and thousands OF
lots doubled and trebled and quadru-
pied in value by the addition Of various
Improvements. The railroads have
added permanent Improvements which
have vastly increased the value of their
lines. The work of the executive coun-
ell seems to have been faithfully per-
formed, and will meet the approval OF
the general taxpayers.