The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-09-16
NEARLY A MILLION
Increase in Valuation of Real
and Personal Property

In Mon0ngalia the last Year-Interest
ing Figures from the tax books
Capitations and Dogs-FaIling on In
Battelle Real Estate Doubled In
Morgan District.
The tax books for the present veal
are finished and are now in the
hands of the printer for binding
The totals show some very interest,"
ing facts in regard to the increase in
valuations in both real and persona
property over last year.
In Mo.gantown last year the to
tai taxable value of real estate was
S954,S77 This year it is 81 ,237, 705
Last year the personal property was
valued at $739,509. This year it is
81 ,026,340. The biggest increase OF
value in personal property has been
in the Second Ward, where it has
jumped from $20,7 to $5O,19O. In
the Third Ward, it has increased
from S624,277 to $S55,175. First
Ward, from $27,2l5 to $49,S35;
Fourth Ward from $59,255 to ST.
140.
The increase in the value of per-
sonal property in the city, it will be
seen, is far in the excess OF the in
crease in the value of real estate.
The population of Morgantown has
increased rapidly, people have been
prosperous, and their personal hold
ings have been increased according
ly. The value of real estate was
raised two or three years ago to meet
the increase in population. This
accounts for the difference.
The number of capitations in 1902
was 1882 In 1908 it is 1437. The
biggest increase in capitations is in
the Second Ward, where it jumps
from 40 to 249. Figures for the
other Wards are as follows:
First Ward, l43 to 1853; Third
Ward, 573 to COB; Fourth Ward, 376
to 435. The number of dogs in the
tity taxed is 175.
In Clinton district, the valuation
of property Tor the two years is as
follows: The figures for 1902 being
placed directly after those for 1908,
in every case: Realty, 1897, 1875;
S3S0,5S5. Personal $205,170; $751;
100. Capitations, 593; 5s5. Dogs,
1888.
Union district: Realty 1892, 905;
1887, 920. Personal, $146, 1870; $140,-
600. Caps 1916; 39l. Dogs 203.
Morgan district exclusive of city,
Realty, $325,530; $265,570 Per-
sonal, 1852, 040; ST., 235. Caps 374;
344. Dogs, 1872.
Grant; Realty, $771,575; $734.1S2.
Personal S452,S40; 354,565. Caps,
621; 594 Dogs, 270.
Cass: Realty $500; 45S,422;
Personal 1888, 40; $26S, 165; Caps
1876; 1877. Dogs, 134.
Clay; Realty 1886, 965; $636,39S.
Personal, $7l6,962; $6s2,975; Caps
69l; 69l. Dogs 42l.
Battelle: Realty iS50a, 40: $685..
604. Personal $466,l4O; s50O,S5O.
Cops 566; 562. Dogs 2S5.
Total valuation of real estate, in
The county, including Morgantown;
this year is $4729,995. Personal
$3,49S,S42. Capitations,
sob; Dogs, 1888. Last year the real
estate made $4,32I,55S, personal
S2,939.0S9. Capitationsl
1886.
Perhaps the most remarkable
thing shown in the figures is the
fact that the value of personal prop
orty in Battelle district has decreas-
ed from $5OO,S5O to 1886, lao a loss
Of nearly $4,000. 1t is hard to &C
count for this. II has been facetious-
y suggested that Battelle men spent
all their money in the Augusta coun
ty fight, or are mad and wouldn't
turn their property in. This ex-
planatlon is of course facetious.
In Morgan district, exclusive of
5he city, the value of personal prop
,rty has more than doubled jumped
rom S7l, 900 to $4,000. This &C
,ountable only on the grounds that
5he building of coke ovens, and sim
lar industries has caused the ire
nendous growth OF values.
The total increase over 1902 in the
valuation of personal and real prop
srty taxable in the county is $96S,
ion