The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-24
NOTE Of WARNING
Timber Lands Should Be
GAsScsScd at Their True
Value in Money
A Prominent Lawyer of Harnett Coun-
ty Urges Vigilance Upon the Part of
the People TO Prevent Control by the
Lumbe Trust.
From the News and Observer.


tern Carolina as to what appears To
be a concerted action on the part of
certain lumber companies Financed
mostly by northern capital) compos-
ing q combination known as the North
Carolina Pine Association and operat-
ing a trust in defiance OF the law.
It is a we'll known fact that thase
different lumber companies, compos-
ing this unlawful combination or
trust, have within the last few years
purchased almost the entire growth OF
standing timber in the eastern part of
this state at prices varying from thirty
to fifty cents per thousand and this,
too, has been done by means of
schemes and plans concocted at head
quarters and perpetrated upon the pep
pie in many instances by unscrupu-
lous, dishonest methods by the tim
Der buyers and agents Of these comqa-
MES. In some instances they claim to
have paid as much as Il dollar per
thousand for this timber, but this was
based upon an estimate of the timber
furnished by an estimator in the en-
plOv Of one or more Of these compa-
MES. Thus a great fraud has Deen
perpetrated upon the people Of the
state and caused them to part with
their timber in many instances for a
thrilling sum.
The law requires the county COM
m%issioners in the different counties to
appoint tax assessors on the first Mon
day in June. 1907. whoe duty it shall
be to assess the timber values Of these
lumber companies, as we'll as other
property values. These assessors are
appointed every three years, and the
county commissioners to be elected
thi var will appoint the assessors in
the different counties on the first
Monday in June 1907.
Whenever it becomes necessary for
these companies to condemn the lands
Of an individual for the purpose of a
right Of way owe said lands, the law
requires them to file a petition before
the clerk of the superior court in the
county in which they operate to have
said lands condemned, and it becomes
the duty Of the clerk to appoint three
commissioners to view the premises
and assess the damages to the land
owner before said right of way is
granted. In all special proceedings for
the sale of undivided interests in
lands and timber a petition is filed
before the clerk of the court in the
county where the timber or land is
located and the clerk has to pass upon
the questions involved, and in many
other instances matters of vital i'm
p%ortance to the lumber companies arc
often brought before the clerk Of the
court, such as filing and passing upon
ho~1r ~ +, IVY of.o, orl ofIo ~, y,oSfnr~
Having stated the above in brief,
one can readily see that it would be to
the interest of the great lumber trust
to have elected this year, in the diff
ferent counties where they operate a
clerk of the court and county commits
sioners who would be friendly to their
interests. Clerks of the court can in
many ways, aid or delay this great
combination of lumber companies in
their proceedings had before them
which would effect their rights. Thus
we can see how important it would be
to these companies to control the NOM
nations of certain men for clerks OF
the court who would be friendly %
their interests. In the same way We
can see how important it would be to
them to dictate and control the nOml-
nation of certain men for county COM
miSSiOners who are friendly to their
interest and who would appoint tax
assessors in June 1907, who would be
friendly to their interests.
A great kick is already being made
by these lumber companies against
the taxes now charged against them,
and in some counties on the first Mon
day in last June, they actually had the
gall to appear by representatives and
by counsel. and ask the commissioners
of the county to reduce the assessed
value on their timber holdings TO IS
per cent, of the amount that they
actually paid for said timber. This
same combination and trust, in open
meeting, has advanced the price Of
lumber from eighteen to thirty dol
lars per thousand, which cost from
thirty cents to fifty cents per thousand,
and notwithstanding this fact they are
endeavoring to reduce the taxes or
this property TO IS per cent of what
they actually paid for it. Would II
not be a great hardship upon the tax
ayers of the state. who are taxed On
the full value Of their properly, 10
have these lumber companies only pay
tax on IS per cent Of the purchase
money they paid for the timber, which
tehy tell yiu is worth fro eighteen
to thirty dollars per thousand. and
which ought TO be assessed At that
price, less the cos of manufacture.
1t is Il fact that in certain counties
where this combination has large tim
Der holdings certain individuals in the
employment of some OF these colnpa-
naies as timber buyers and agents.
many OF them non-residents. are TAX
ing active part in local politics and are
to control the primaries
and county conventions in the nomi-
nation Of certain candidate for county
commissioners and clerks of the court
who are friendly TO their interests aud
to defeat others whom they have not
been able to control.
What, does this mean? Taxpayer.
and consider before it is too late'
Have o been feeced of your tim