The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-23

thf0ugn0uL the state
Much debate arose at the meeting
of the state equalization board yester-
day over the question Of raising the
assessments on farm machinery and
tools.
Chairman Sprague suggested raise
Of 10 per cent over the 1903 valuation,
but this was objected to by other MEM
bers of the board, who commended that
little new machinery had been pur-
chased during the past year by the
farmers. and that the machinery which
they already possessed had decreased
in value.
Members from the southern part OF
the state argued that farmers there
were largely raising corn, which re-
quired but little machinery, and that
therefore the assessment in that part
of the state should be allowed to stand
as it was without being raised: On
the question of the sale Of machinery
in 1904, ,Mr. Fagley, the st. Paul menu
Der, contended that 1t had been as
large as in any previous year. Inc
Watonwan county representative OBJ
u
suggested for his county, but the in
crease was voted nevertheless. He
said he would see that the increase
was abated before the board finally
adjourned.
. The. equalization was based on the
population, acreage and tillage or the
various counties. 1t was the intention
of the board to restore the valuation on
farm implements to the 1903 figure,
"a T7T OF tho 1904 returns
from the counties showing falling OF
of about $251,376 throughout the state.
AS they proceeded to equalize the Varl-
GUS counties, however, the equaiiZerS
found that where adjoining counties
showed a very wide difference In yalu-
ton, which WAS not justified by con-
ditions, it was necessary to raise the
lower valuation to the amount OF the
other. which will bring the valuation
on farm implements throughout the
state to about Is per cent higher than
1908, or, in other words, the approx
mate valuation to be fixed by the
board this year will amount to S5,49S,-
628. -
Nearly every county in the state was
raised from 10 to- 100 per cent. The
counties and the percentage of in
crease are as follows:
q os-.- a. Rates of Increase
: Itasca, 20 per cent; SAnolsa, 20; Beltrami,
90; Big Stone. SO; Brown, 20; Chippewa,
SO; Clay, Is; Cottonwood, 66 2-3: DAKOTA,
so; Fillmore. 25 Freedom, SO 1-3; Henne-
pin, 33 1-3; Houston, Is; jackson, 40;
Me akeg SO So. Morrison, IS; Mower, SO; Muir
ray. 20; Nicollet, 20; Mobiles. 20; Ohm
ssted. 20; Otter Tail. Is; Pipestone, 50 10;
Redwoa I'd PSSpf ReSyie eef Rock ak &c. 0e sheT
burne, 35; Sibley, SO; Stearns, 25; Stevens,
20; Swift, 100; Todd, SO 1-3; Traverse,
100; Wabasha, so; Wadena, 20; Yellow
Winona, so; Blue Earth. 10; Clay, 20;
Crow Wing. 10; Dodge, S; Douglas, 10;
Faribault, 10.
In all other counties not listed the
valuations were allowed to remain as in
1903. AS a rule, the valuation return
ed in counties which We're raised great.
ly, was small, as for instance, in Itasca
county, where the valuation was raised
100 per cent the returned valuation
was only $445. While the raise appears
to be exceedingly great, the individual
assessment upon the farmers will not
bessmuch higher than last year.
The raise in the special class, in
which the threshing machines and en-
gines are listed, is as follows by coun-
ties: SsS
Chippewa. 20; Cottonwood. SO; Dodge
%; Faribault, 10; Isanti, 25; Itasca, 100;
Kandiyohi, 10: Lincoln. 20; Marshall, 10;
Pine. SO 1-3; Rice 10: Washington. 80 1-9;
Sherburnes 5ei SseafnsE Is; Sibley, SO Is;
Swift, so; Todd, Is; Wadena, 20; Yellow
Medicine, 10; Anoka. 49,, Beltrami, 80;
Beltrami, 80. -
All other counties not listed were
neither increased nor decreased, the
valuation standing as in 1903.
The board yesterday also completed
the valuation, of household goods and
office furniture by raising the valuation
in Hennepin, the remaining county, so
per cent. .s{4ss 80
Will Value Jewelry
Today the board will consider da-
monds and jeWelry, gold and silver
plate. The returned valuation of dia-
monds ana jewelry for the state for
1904 amounts to $254,211 The assessed
valuation for 1903 was $369,595. The
valuation on this class of goods will
probably be raised about 10 per cent
| above that of last year
The returned valuation on gold and
| silver plate for the state for this year
| is, $l61,704.=s Last years assessed yalu-
alton amounted to s339,963. This item
| also will probably be raised to exceed
last years valuation by about 10 per
| cent.
JuaSe leu, olfsSfSdS L ais, appear
! ed before the board yesterday to pro-
| test against the increased valuation of
| Fergus Falls real estate. Fergus Falls
| real estate, compared to that of the
| surrounding country, has been listed
high. Judge Field said that if the
county as a whole had its valuation
raised city owners of real estate would
suffer and asked for an abatement.
The board took the matter under add
visement. 'f