Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-30

SofUu Per acre, after beng .denuQeQ Oh
their entire growth, what shall be said
Of the hundreds of local assessors, who
nave valued similar lands at least
twenty-five to fifty per cent lower than
the State EOard, as figures show to be
the fact
The State valuations of the cities il
the past twelve years have been in
creased $l9954,GG0 or Is per cent. The
total state value, as made by the State
Assessors for the year 1904 was $780,
514,Ql4 and for the year 1892 it was
$31 1888, Isl, which gives an increase in
the total valuation of the State in the
past twelve years Of $52,1S4333. This
increase is accounted for as follows:
The towns and plantations in Aroos-
took county have contributed an i'll
crease of $685. ,662; the cities, S19,9J4,-
ESQ; the Wild lands s11 ,GG0076; and the
balance, or $14,S1l.941, and an amount
equal to the decrease of the valua ton
in the agricultural towns during the
period of the past twelve years is made
up from the Increase in the State val
uatiops Of the manufacturing and SUM-
mer resort towns throughout the Stare
The equalization of the valuation on
the wild lands is one Of the most per
picking matters with which the State
ASSESSORS have to deal. They cover an
immense territory, and many Of TIL"
towns are remote from the railroads
and waterways, and therefore. the
stand If timber on them, in many in
stances. has no market value at the
present time-Only prospective value.
At asst hree-QuarterS of the ha GW0oI
growth on the unincOrpOrated town.
ships has no market value today.
Then there are lakes, ponds, boys,
b.OW-doWnS and burns which are per-
picking factors in arriving At valua-
lions. There are Instances where
tracts If wild land have been ad-
vancel $500 to SEQ per acre and from
,00J TO $l65,000 per township in the
past four years. These are townships
which are situated near rivers or large
streams and the lumber is easily ac-
cessihle. There are other townships
which have been advanced only a small
fraction, owing ID their loca ton and
condition. The Board has labored with
one purpose in view, and that is, i'll
making the State valuations, to place
upon every city town, plantation, and
b!l tNtts lAdCl VI " III lSLiiN IL lstit anu
just value: and from all the informal
lion which they are able to obtain, the
members have been a unit in the belief
that tie wild lands in contemporaries
townships III the State valuation of 1904
were as fully valued as the property in
he cities, towns and plantations.
This great question should be ap-
preached intelligently," says a man
Tho by association in business and
professional lines. is in position to
understand all phases Of the situation
ITO put the matter in an understand
able way, let me say that some big fish
have been caught out Of certain holes
in Maine lakes. Some big fish have
been caught in Maine cumberland
values. But the man who has now
got his money, as general thing
hasn't got the timber. To impose
equitable taxes pre-supposes an exact
knowledge OF the situation today.
"a tax that is so large as to endan-
ger profits means a prompt stripping
of Maine. timberlands. This will be
the only resource of the owners
Maine cannot afford to squeeze hei
goose.
a crop from his acres regularly as tbs
farmer does. Eighty years is the
shortest time in which a spruce tree
can lie brought to maturity. Thou
sands o. logs floating in the kennebet
Of second growth cutting were eX'
alnined. aud the average age was fOunC
10 be $50 Yeas. Consider the invest
nrent that is tied up. The whole trent
is now toward conservation Of the Tor
ests by the large concerns. Forestry
experts are working on the problem
1t means tying up tracts from me
choppers for many years. only th'
little fellows among owners VIII Dc
driven to denude tracts. Acquisition
of Maine woodlands by a few bis
operators means better conditions al
around. They Will meet the people o
Maine half way on the taxation prob
lem end will pay their share of the
burden But they have 10 time t.
waste on demagogues who were neve
in a timberland tract ana who MAKE
charges without proof.
az know of a tract of woodland con
tanning 200 millions of lumber. OF
account OF natural conditions .
wntcrcourses. etc. only millions cal
lie cut. yardcd and driven out annual
". The timber was bought at SO
per standing thousand. The neV
owners will sell at $3.50 from tn
stump. Looks like good profit. Blu
reckon the fixed and unescapab
charges-interest on investment, seal
ers' wages. pay of foreman and Gus
to1ians-ail at lowest rates, and at tn
end of 70 years the thing, figured an,
WAY YOU can estimate it, brings tn
Investor out about even. In case o
fire or other setback he will lose.
At is easy to make wild assertion
in dealing with big questions. En-
the men who have invested fortunes il
pulp mills ana timberlands. do not be
lievc that Maine is going to act on an
cxcept sound business reasons.
"As t. this matter being one Il
which poIitics does figure or ought t
foure-or that any one political part
can do more than another to produc
same and equitable adjustmcnt-ou
upon such demagogy.'
MASONIC GRAND LODGE