Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-28

based upon the returns of the lOca
assessors. 1t must be remembered
however, that once in two years the
State Board of Assessors, under the
law, acts as a Board of Equalization
and having acted this year in this
capacity it reports the ninth valuation
of the State as fixed by the Board, to
be as follows
| Wild lands, &c. 301
| Growth on the public lots, 1.136,0
i Total 1891. 6g7, 900
This valuation is an increase of $2S,-
1896 over the State valuation of 1904
which was s366,514,Ol4. These figures
speak more eloquently than words of
the substantial growth which Maine
has made, during the past two pros
porous years, along the lines of indus
trial development and material ad-
vancement
| The report notes at some length the
good work which has been done during
the past year in securing accurate
plans and descriptions Of the Wild
lands of the State. This is a work of
great magnitude and necessitates the
employment of skilled men by the
| Board to cruise the lands in question.
While the work of collecting this inn
portant information is not yet COM
pleted the Board is to be commended
been made upon it. There has been a
good deal of talk relative to the taxa
ton of wild lands-much of it by
persons who are VIGOROUSLY unfamiliar
with the important details of the sub
jcct. Like every other matter of
public interest it should be approached
in spirit of fairness. and with a de-
sire to know the facts before rushing
to conclusions. These facts the State
| Assessors are rapidly accommodating
| 1t is a very easy matter to criticise
| their judgment on this and other
SCISSORS to be criticised from the dawn
of civilization. and will probably con-
| tinue to be until the end of the chapter.
The fact remains, however, and will be
| recognized by fair-mnded men whose
opinion carries weight, that with their
years Of investigation, and with the
mass of data at their disposal. the
State Assessors are vastly better
| qualified to pass upon this and other
matters pertaining to their official
duties than any one else. There is no
office in Maine where experience and
the results of personal investigation
| count for so much. as in the member
ship of the State Board of Assessors.
| The present members of that board
are clean. upright. and able men.
They have had a wide experience in
the valuation Of property, and are
thoroughly familiar with the condi-
TONS that exist in all sections of the
State. They represent both political
| parties thus assuring a nom partisan
| administration Of their office. The re-.
suits of their labors are certainly en-
| titled to the respect of the people Of
| Maine. and we apprehend will carry
weight with thoughtful citizens.
Questions of taxation should always
be approached with conservatism and
fairness. Here is the last place in the
consideration Of the public interests
where the spirit of class-hatred should
be given leeway or the voice of fanat-
icism be permitted to lead the way.
Since 1900 the present Board of State
Assessors has increased the valuation
of the State s57,99S,341 or 17.3 per cent.
This increase has come from the fol-
lowing sources in the proportions
noted:
Wild Lands. aOIh nor o.n.
Mnf'g and summer resort
towns, 1Oi,
Cities ot:I "
ArOOstook County, eih "
Farming towns outside
ArooStook. 5
THESE facts show that during the
past six years the burdens of taxation
nave been. gradually lifted from the
farming interests which are peculiarly
open to the vision of the assessor. and
paced upon other interests well able
TO bear them. The State Assessors
note that the total State tax placed
upon farming towns and plantations
outside of Aroostook County-where
the material development of the last
few Years has been marvcllous-is an
proNimately $4,000 less in 1905 than
the state tax assessed upon the same