The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-05
MILLION AND A HALF
INCREASE IN GALATIANS TAXABLE
PROPERTY FOR 1908.
TAX DIGEST COMPLETED.
VALUE OF PROPERTY RETURNED
FOR TAXATION So, 726, 1903.

Increase Is SI,5OS, 0S2-Mnnufact u-
rIes, Banks and Realty Market
showed Marked Enhancement
Tax Receiver Accredits the In
crease to Prosperity, Increased
manufactures and Healthy Con-
dItion OF Financial Institutions
Means IA Reduction of Tax Rnte'
Mr., BAKER Largely Responsible
for Result.
over one million and a half dollars
increase in tax returns is the record
for Chatham county for 1903.
The tax digest, completed by Tax Re
ceiver Marcus 5. Baker yesterday
shows a total valuation for taxation OF
1872, 726. 29S, an increase over 1902 OF ST.
5oS9s2. This is the largest return ever
made in Chatham county. and shows
the largest increase in any one year
since 1890. when the increase was a lit
tie larger.
This showing is in marked contrast
to that of last year, when there was a
slump in values of nearly half mill
lion dollars The increase is attributed
by the tax receiver to the general pros
perity of the community, evidenced es-
pecially in the increase of manufac-
turtles in the county and the healthy
condition Of the financial institutions
of Savannah.
4 Lower Tax Rate.
There seems to be now no doubt
i'll
ton of the state and county tax rate.
The returns from nearly every section
of the nan indicate an increase, the
average increase being about 100000
for each county. Last year, despite the
decreased return of property for tax
alton, the County Commissioners re-
duced the county rate from 1856 to
$3.50. The commissioners are all
agreed that the amount will be reduc-
ed considerably this year, but they
make no estimate. They will have
about $1,000 more for purposes of ap-
preparation.
The most marked increase has been
in the matter of bank shares, and like
stock. there having been an increase
of $67S. 400. Both the city and county
real estate have enhanced in value
considerably, the returns showing an
increase in valuation of city property
of Sl62,314. and of country realty of
$l26, 731. In cotton and like manufac-
tories there has been an increase of
taxable values of $731,94 Shipping
and tonnage has increased, $1O2, 3O5.
The total increase has been 81, 73S, 433,
but from this must be substracted the
total decrease of $255, sol, which makes
the net increase as stated. The total
decrease last year was $1,S74,774 as
against S255,SO1. for 1903.
Tax Receiver Bakers Work.
Despite the increase in valuations
and the consequent additional labor
incident to its return, the amount in
default is $1,000 smaller than in 1902.
This is due in large measure to the
earnest and conscientious efforts of
Tax Receiver Baker, who has endeav-
ored to get in every class of property.
In this he was very successful, many
bringing on the books of the county
values that has escaped the officials
in the past. Then, too, he has kept
his books open longer than in any
other county in the state in order that
every one might have an opportunity
TO make his return, and that no one
might be double taxed If he could
prevent it 1t is said that witlAn the
past three weeks he has saved those
who could not afford to be double
taxed in the neighborhood of 81. 600 by
keeping his books open and Emporium
ing them by letter or in person to
make their returns
The following table shows the tax
digest for the year. with a compare
tive statements of the increases and
decreases, together with other infor-
nation of interest in that connection:
Values