St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-07-01
Assessment on Pine
Timber.

the land syndicates so long they
were actually afraid to raise the as.
sessment for fear OF getting the
counties in litigation. We don't
believe it, we can't speak for other
counties, but we do know that Pearl
River county has a board composed
Of good livelheaded men who gen.
orally do their own thinking, and
when it comes to bluffing or bribing,
We don't believe there is q syndi-
cate on earth or private individu-
al who can do either. We have not
yet mentioned the matter to but
two members OF the board and they
unhesitatingly announce that they
are in favor of raising the assess.
ment on these lands to twenty dol
lars. The other members of theBoard
are no doubt in favor of the same
thing, and il so, that settles it. The
party who attempts to buy or bluff
the Pearl River county supervisors
will come 20 grief. The people are
becoming thoroughly aroused over
the matter and are strongly Of the
opinion that there should be no
compromise whatever. They realize
that the county is being deprived
Of money that justly belongs to 1t
by having twenty-five and thirty
dollar lands assessed at five and
eight dollars per acre. The taxes
properly assessed and collected
would build iron bridges over every
stream in the county and highways
that would be credit to the county.
Because the poor people have been
bearing the burden of taxation these
many years and the wealthy nom
residents allowed to hold his mill
lions OF property in the county
without sharing equally the burden,
is no reason why it should always
be permitted, and now is the time
to give the matter serious thought.
Only last Tuesday the Dealers and
Lumbermen's Exchange announced
an increase in flooring and ceiling
from $40 to $45 per thousand, and
other grades Of lumber a proper
tionate increase making and average
increase Of about So per thousand.
The most OF the pine timber lands
in this county will average ten
thousand feet per acre, which means
that the timber is worth $50 per
acre more than before this increase
in price. It is possible and very
probable that before another four
years have elapsed, the pine timber
in South Mississippi will be worth
one hundred dollars per acre, and
as long as these nonresident own
n
ers are allowed to go untaxed, they
will still hold it for speculative pur-
poses and the people Of this section
will not only be deprived OF the
taxes, but the money. that will come
to them in the manufacture Of the
timber, and ithe development that
will follow tile saw mill. II there
Is person in this county who is
TO this rise in the ASSESS
ment OF virgin pine timber, We 10.
vite them to let it be known through
the columns Of the Free Press and
state their reason for opposition.
We also invite brief statements from
those who agree with US on the sub
ject. 1t il q matter that concerns
every citizen in the county, and the
Board Of Supervisors is always glad
to know what the will of the people
is in matters OF grave importance.
The board is simply the business
managers Of the people, and it is
the desire OF each member to do
what IL best for the creates. number
and remain true to their oath OF
office.-Poplarville Free Press.
We clip the above from the Free
Press Of last week, believing that
it will furnish great food for seri-I
GUS thought to the citizens and
Police Jury Of our parish inasmuch
as the people Of Washington parish
are right at present being held
back in the race Of progress and de-
velopment by syndicates composed
OF nonresident capitalists who care
not whether the citizens OF Wash
inrtnn parish are ever rescued from
the embrace Of the tall pines and
opens its arms to the flow of immi-
grafton which is just now beginning
to be felt in every section Of LOUISE