The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-15
TAXATION BOTHERS THE. LUMBER MEN Mississippi Owners Are Expect ing Some Increases PRICES ARE NOT UPWARD There Is Now Disposition to Rest on Quotations as They Are Now
 Flxed-Other Lumber
 Gossip.
PRICES ARE NOT UPWARD

Hattiesburg, Miss, April 14-(Special)- The big problem that comes before the owners of tlmberland i'll Mississippi this spring is that of taxation. The quadren- nial assessments of realty all over the state takes place this year, and since the values of timberland have advanced marvelously in the past few years, 1t IS to be expected that the assessments or the same will reflect this advance. But the problem that worries the land and timber holders is as to the extent or the raise of valuations. Some of the county assessors are already at work in the timber belt, and the tendency Ill all cases is toward an elevation of values. There is no uniformity in this matter as among the different counties, and the land owners, especially those who are non-resideuts. which includes all the big svndicafes, are in a quandary as 10 the value to report upon their holdings. Under the laws of Mississippi 1t is up to the owner of the property to fix the valuation, and to this he must make oath.
 The county assessor of Perry county Is in receipt of numerous letters from these non-residents. asking him fOp information as to the basis of valuation. Be.Hs rather uncertain himself he brought the mat ter before the county board Of super visors and that body has the subject under advisement being unable on the moment to arrive at a positive conelu- sion. Since Perry is the central county of the timber belt, the action of this board is awaited with much interest, as is will doubtless form precedent that will guide the assessors in the other counties of south and east Mississippi. Under Five Dollars.
 It is found that under the assessment
 4aaf her land was valued all the way from s1 to ss per acre. the latter figure being the maximum. The bulk Of it went un- der s5 per acre. This same land has been selling of late from S25 to $Sb per acre. according to contiguity to the mills and shipping conveniences.
 The holders are unable to say what would be a proper valuation to place on the land for assessment purposes The board of supervisors are equally at sea. The price at which such land is selling may not represent d. value that must stand for the next four years. for these prices may arise from a temporary boom. The price at which the lands are held afford no reliable criterion, because hold CTS may place an eXtravagant value upon what they own. The price which pros pective purchasers may place on the land Is not a reliable index, because buy CTS in the heat of competition, or dag zled h,, irridescent dreams of profit may offer prices beyond what the property is worth.
 In the discussion of this question the timberland holders and the local authori- ties are not engaging In any heated con troversy. The timbermen are not show ing any disposition to avoid taxes They only want to know what the taxes shall be. and they rely upon the taxing ofn- cials to treat them all fairly and with out discrimination. The letters address ed to the local assessor arc all couched in that yein The county authorities ap- preciate this attitude on the part of the lumbermen, and are responding by show ing a like feeling of consideration for the rights of the Individuals The laws of the state require that all property shall be reported to the assessor at it's full value: but this is not taken to mean that all timberland must be assessed at the high values that have been quoted in some of the sensational deals that have been reported.
 The probability is that in Perry coun- ty, and this applies to other counteis in the timber belt. the county assessor will not be tied to any hard and fast rule as to these assessments; but he will take the valuation of the individual hold CTS with the understanding that the hold CTS will be held to a reasonable account ability for their valuations under oath. It may be expected. therefore. that val