Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-02
18th Annual Report Of
the State Assessors.
Gain Of $6,718,280 in Valuation
Since 1903.
Full Text Of Report Made to Governor
and Council.

cutive Council:
The local valuations of the cities.
towns and plantations for the year 1904
as certified IL this board by the asses
sorS. amount TO $323.696.114, an IN
.re.tSe of $G..lS.2S0 over similar valua-
ton for 1903
This vas not so great increase as
was shown by similar returns of 1903
as compared With 1907; but when gem
e.al business conditions are considered
the valuation for 1904 must be regard
ed, We believe, as a most excellent ex-
hibit OF the general prosperity OF the
State.
The increase of real estate valuations
is $5.5"0.llo. and OF personal estate.
$ll0>.l0
Money 1T interest. and taxable So
curitieS show a gain of $11,31S: Ma
tional bank stock and trust and bank
ing company stock, $222222 oo2 logs ana
lumber. $3I5.4U2: wood and bark. $S3.-
+l3: furniture. $3O.S51 Stock in trade
shows only Il slight increase over 1908.
Shipping shows 4 loss of s62,136. Car
riaGc.: are valued $685. less than in
l9u3: bat this loss is more than ofTSe,
by the taxation of automobiles. which
are taxed "n 4 valuation of $10,G6J.
In the revision! of the statutes i'll 1903.
the exemption Of musical Instruments
to each family owning, such property
was raised from $500 TO $1,000, and
this increased cXrnAn tion hes produce.
a loss Of $ll1.S6. il the valuation of
musical Instruments as compared with
1903.
The valuation of live stock is re-
turned 1T $11+.1j6. 062. An increase OF
S35..26S above 1903.
The number. of horses has increased
$40; colts, 1919; cows. G050: oxen, sol;
young cattle. 1896: swine. 1909
Sheep alone show Il decrease in num-
bcrs Of 1880.
Railroad property subject to munich
pal taxation has increased s243.l 80. and
street railroad property. s53.330.
The public property OF municipalities
not including school buildings is valued
Sill .0G5 more than in 1903. and proper
" exempted from taxation is valued
$l,0sl 1873. y decrease from 1903 of
$2399S1
Tn: combined municipal indebted
ness OF the State amounts to SS.431,UiS.
-
Ninety-nine of the municipalities re-
port increase of their debt: one
hundred and iifty-tive Il decrease in
their debt forty-one the same indeht-
edneSs. and one hundred and seventy
four are free from debt.
The combined municipal indebted
ness is equal to $1,000 on each $1,000 OF
the total valuation. The Indebtedness
of the twenty cities is considerably
above the average of the whole State.
being equal to S42.G2 on each $1,000
valuation. The number of polls taXeo
is 1869. and the number exempted
from taxation li.5.:. A combined gain
OF 206t. showing that the population of
the State is steadily increasing. The
average amount assessed upon each
poll is $2.GS.
TWO hundred and twenty eight Of the
municipalities have higher tax rate
tran III 1908. one hundred and seventy
seven a lower rate, and sixty-four re-
Port The same rate as i'll 1908.
TIL average rate Of taxation is some
what higher than III 1905, being so. ;.
on each SlttD valuation The average
rai" Of taxation III the twenty cities OF
the state is $2l.42 on each $1,000 valu-
alton.
The total amount of taxes assessed
~ the municipalities for 1904 is $111a,-
80. which is S254,"3i more than was as
scssed i'll 1903 Approximately one
Till d of this increase is accounted for
in the appropriations for schools. which
are $S3.1l4 greater than in 1908, tn"
total amount being $l.22..3313.
The decrease in the taxes upon saw
inRs banks. one-half OF which are add
ed to the mill tax and apportioned by
the state to the municipalities for the
support of schools has made it neccs-
sary that a greater amount be raised
by taxation for the maintenance of
schools.
The amount appropriated for main
tenance of highways and bridges for
1904 is Si.o3S7734. which is somewhat
more than was raised in 1903
STATE VALUATION.
Acting as board of equalization
we herewith report the seventh BIZ
ennial valuation of the State as made
by this board. as follows: Cities. towns
and plantations, $33s.6i3O $50: wild lands.
S-N,'N'.tl- Si'N III WI ptpiiN i't'' So'V'
| 80; total, S36G.5l4.ol4.
This valuation represents an increase
| of s142S5.1i1 above the state valuation
of 1902. The increase in estates is
| SO. 694. 90: wild lands. S3.45l co.
growth on public lots. $13S.506.
| We regard this as conservative
valuation Of the taxable property of the
| State AS is we'll known the greater
portion of the property of railroads.
telephone and telegraph companies and
the deposits in savings banks and in
| trust and banking companies is not
included in the state valuation as these
comnani,s are taxed directly by the
state and are not subject to local
taxation on this property and it does
not appear on the tax rolls of cities
| and towns. There is considerable
| difficulty in securing accurate and
definite information regarding the
value Of many of the unincorporated
townships If the State. but from the
best ob:ainable information we are
| satisfied that the wild lands are a
fully valued as property in cities and
| towns.
The total amount Of corporation
taxes assessed by this board for the
prcsent yelr shows small decrease
| from the amount assessed in 1"h3. thf