Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-05
DEMAC0CS SHOUT ABOUT WILD LANDS
But Demagogs Don't Know What They Are Howl
ing About Study the Other Side Of
Names Great Question

square miles, Is included in towns and
plantations, and the valuation each year
Is placed upon 1t, for local taxation pur-
poses, by the local assessors, and for
warded by them annually to the board
OF State assessors. The unincorporated
townships are located in eight counties
OF the STATE, viz, Aroostook, Franklin
Hancock. Penobscot. PiscataQuis.; OK
ford. Somerset and Washington. The
valuation for State tax purposes on this
great wilderness Is made up by the
State assessors. without the aid Of local
assessors. once In every two years. and
on or before the first day Of December
prior to the assembling OF the Legisla-
ture. which valuation forms the basis
on which the State and county taxes are
assessed on these townships for the
following two years. The unincorporated
townships are subject to the same ratio
Of county and State taxation as are the
cities and towns. and. in addition. owners
are assessed for the building and main
tenance OF an highways constructed
through the townships by the county,
commissioners. There is no municipal
government In the wild land townships
and therefore the total tax rate is neces-
sariiy considerably less than in cities
and towns. which have fire and street
departments paved streets, electric
lights. sidewalks, paupers to support,
and multitude Of other things to pro-
vide for
Readers have undoubtedly noticed OF
late in the newspapers-a number
references to the taxation question, in
Wn1ch the writer or the party inter-
viewed has made comparisons between
the rate OF taxation paid by cities and
towns and the rate on land in unincor-
porated townships, and that they have
invariably given the entire tax rate on
cities and towns which included State
nd {o@~
they give only the State tax on wild
lands Of 2h mills on the dollar. This is
misleading, and undoubtedly has led
some people who have not thoroughly
investigated the matter to believe that
the 2E mills covered the entire tax paid
unincorporated townships are subject
to the same rate Of county tax as all
other property in the State. and The
state and county rates combined will
equal very closely to 5 mills on the dollar
each year. One-fourth OF the wild lands
are situated In towns and plantations.
and the valuation is placed upon them
every year by the local board Of asses
sors for the purpose Of local taxation
The valuation placed upon the unin-
corporated townships by the State valu-
alton commission in 1870 was $5.156 1856,
or an average value of 55c per acre. In
1880 it was increased by them to $685.
1890 the valuation made up by the Valu-
alton Commission was $19,14645S, or an
average value per acre of $2.07. In 1891
the Legislature created the Board of
State Assessors, and the first State VAL
nation made by it was in the year 1892
The valuation on wild lands or unincor-
poratcd townships has been increased
$11. 60.0I0, or 81 per cent. since 1892,
while the valuation on all real estate in
the balance of the State, which includes
all cities. towns and plantations has
been increased $40. 523. 763. or Is per cent
1t has been stated that the Board OF
State Assessors have under-valued the
lands in the unincorporated townships,
and recently one of the gentlemen who
Is very active in making such statements
stated that the wild lands of the State
are worth 800 100000. And he also stated
that the soil in the wild land area after
of all it's growth. would be
worth $500 per acre. Within SIX months
an option was given to a person in this
State on over 100000 acres, containing
some of the best timberland in the State,
at an average price per acre Of little
acre only above the valua ton placed up
on it by the State Assessors.
If the Board of State Assessors are to
be criticized because there are men hav-
ing no practical knowledge whatever OF
the matter who say that the unincorpor-
lteu townships are worth $500 per acre,
after being denuded of their entire
growth, what shall be said of the hum
ireds OF local assessors who have VAL
ucd similar lands a least twenty-five to
lfty per cent. lower than the State
Board, as figures show to be the fact?
The state valuations Of the cities in the
past twelve years have been increased
1884 $50. or IS per cent The total State
value. as made by the State Assessors
'or the year 1904 was 1896 5l4.o14 and for
he year 1892 it was 1914 3331S1. which
gives an increase in the total valuation
If the state in the past twelve years OF
y, 1Si."33. This increase is accounted for
IS follows: The towns and plantations
II Aroostook County have contributed
IN increase of 5,697 6e2: the cities. s1e
"a $50; the wild lands 81. 66o,O7O: and the
balance, Or Sli.S1l. 9H. and an amount
DUAL to the decrease Of the valuation in
he agricultural towns during the period
If the past twelve years is made up from
he increase in the State valuations Of
lie manufacturing and summer resort
owns throughout the State
The equalization Of the valuation on
he wild lands is one of the most per
licking matters with which the state
SCISSORS have TO deal. They cover an
territory, and many of the
owns are remote from the railroads and
-aterways. and therefore, the stand Of
imber on them. in many instances. has
n market va tbo $4,000.