The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-12
BOARD ESTIMATES
PIANOS AT $50 EACH
Also Raises County Valuations
of Meiodeons, Timepieces
and Sewing Machines.

The state board of equalization took
up the proper value of the pianos in
Minnesota and decided that about $50
was a fair average valuation for these
luXuries.
AS consequence of this valuation
the county valuations on similar fur
niture had to be increased on an av-
erage of Is per cent, Roseau county
jumping the county figure rs per cent,
and in Red Lake and. Wabasha coun-
ties 33 per cent.
Winona county put the highest fig
ure on its pianos, with fiat price of
$50, the others ranging anywhere from
$50 up. The board made no distinc-
ton between the different kinds Of
pianos, but punched concert grands,
baby grands, uprights and the rest at
the one average price.
According to the returns there are
1904 pianos in Minnesota, valued on
the returns at $246,8S4.80, which valu-
alton the board has increased nearly
$154,00O.
Hennepin has the largest number of
pianos, returning 10,222, on which
value is put of $8363 each, slightly
larger than the value set by the board
yesterday, but which was allowed to
stand, nevertheless.
Ramsey county reports 5,S0S pianos.
valued at only s70.S6, to which the
board promptly added Is per cent.
Cook county is the quietest one In
the state, having only four, but they
are valued at $40 each, which was al
lowed to stand.
All Guilty of Playing "Hiawatha."
I'VE ought to allow a discount If
the owner could prove that he or she
had never played 'Hiawatha' on the
instrument" said one of the board,
but l guess all of the $4,000 would be
found guilty, anyway"
There were also 2S,4O2 melodeons
and organs in the state, valued on the
county returns at $436,010. The av-
.erage valuation by the counties was
SIS. This was increased by the board
yesterday to make the general aver
age about SIS. OF these Ramsey re-
turned 419, valued at 1887 each. and
Hennepin TIA at the same rate. All of
the other counties, with one or two ex-
ceptions, made a rate of about $13,
and had to be increased to make the
average adopted.
Minnesota has 132069 sewing and
knitting machines, valued by the coun-
ties at $796,30S, and this amount was
increased 10 per cent by the board.
The average value of these machines
was So.UZ, WHICH the DOarQ QlQ hot
consider enough. Ramsey has 1876
of these, with total value of $65,S03,
and Hennepin 1854. valued at $91,973.
The average valuation by Ramsey was
1856, and Hennepin $9.42.
Worse Than a Pawnbroker.
When the return of watches and
clocks was looked over it appeared that
the several county boards could beat
down even the valuations of a pawn
broker, as the average value of the
84,834 watches and clocks in the state
was only 1929. This valuation was
promptly raised to an average of 81 by
the board. Ramsey county can only re-
turn 7,768 of these useful articles. but
values them at $10.02 each, while Hen
nepin can put up 10,502 at a rate Of
$11.12, the total value of Ramsey coun-
tvs timepieces being $77,90S and of
Hennepin's $116,844.
The board adjourned after the meet
ing yesterday afternoon until Tuesday
next, if a quorum be present, it will
take up the subject of household fur
niture, farm utensils and Jewels.