The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-07

tlcular case is not the rullng
price and therefore lit would not
be fair to value all land accord
ing to the fancy prices paid in a
few cases. But almost all land
has wonderfully advanced in val
ue the past four years. This is
due to the high prices for farm
products and to the high prices
and active demand for timber.
The assessment should therefore
be increased. 1t is not an an
swer to say that prices have gone
too high and cannot be main
tanned. Much real estate is
changing hands. Instead Of SIS,
$40 or SIS per acre for land the
price has in most cases more
than doubled and it is the duty
Of the assessors, if they obey the
lawand keep their oaths inviolate,
to assess the land at what it will
readily sell for, no matter if the
increase is two .or three times
over that of the last assessment.
Here is the oath the list-takers
and assessors are required to
take:
''The board of list-takers and
assessors shall make complete
return of their assessments, en-
bracing an abstract of the tax
able property of their respective
township, to the board of county
commissioners on or before the
second Monday in July, and an
mex the following affidavit, sub
scribed and sworn to before a
justice of the peace, who shall
certify the same: We, the list
takers and assessors of-town-
ship, county, make oath that
the foregoing list contains to the
best of our knowledge and belief,
all real and personal property re-
quired by law to be assessed in
said township, and that we have
assessed every tract or parcel OF
land or other real and personal
property at its true value in
money, and have endeavored to
do equal justice to the public and
to the taxpayers concerned"
Before entering upon the dis
charge of the duties of their of.
fee. they shall also take and sub.
scribe the following oath before
the chairman of the board Of
county commissioners for then
respective counties, or some of.
ficer qualified to administer oaths
I, -, list-taker Tor assessor)
of - township, - county, dc
solemnly swear Tor affirm that
will discharge the duties devol.
wing upon me as list-taker or as.
SCISSOR according to the laws in
force governing said Office SC
help me God. "
Sec. 20 says list-takers, and as
SCISSORS shall not be entitled tx
pay unless they have performed
the labor and made return ir
strict compliance with the law.
A Stokes county list-taker, dis
cussing this subject in the Dan
bury Reporter, uses this illus
tration: A tract of land ha!
: changed hands at say $1,000. A
similar tract alongside sold q
years ago for $500 and is assessed
for $500. The list-taker insist!
| that as the tract sold for $1,00t
that is its true cash value anC
: both tracts should be assessed a
; that figure. It will have to b,
: done if the law is obeyed. Tn,
J list-taker continues: ''Ifreal anC
personal property are assessed
: at one-half true value, the none!
and solvent credits ought also.
This is right, too. There is M
justice or reason is assessing lant
: at So to $40 per rcre when it cal
: be sold readily for $50 or $50
But if that sort Of assessment i
! to continue, then solvent credit
: and money on hand should be GU
down to one-half or two-third