Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-04

- ~ (t4cu III 6Ss1IS
o'oo' ihan ;hs; Of fairness and public
.as: inc real pa:2oso 0; tao agitation
. mere likely 20 saifer defeat.
Whlle then the present system and
method of taxation Of the property
wltnm the State is not altogether
neal and will undoubtedly meet with
vision at your hands, there can be
40 question as to the care and skill
exercised by the Board of State Asses.
sors In determining values for taxa.
tlon purposes under the existing laws
AND no better or more eloquent state.
ment can be made of the wealth OF
the State and the growth of that
wealth than is furnished by the State
Assessors in their report for the year
Just closed. From this report it will
be seen that since 1904 the State valu.
alton of Real Estate has increased
Si5,SiS.461, Personal Estates $4,617,.
100. Wild Lands $7,422 500. and
Growth On Public Lots S245, 726. In
1904 the total valuation was S366514,.
Ola, in 1906 it is S394 .732 $50, a gain in
two years of S2S21S,97G. Under the
local valuation placed on property in
the cities, towns and plantations in
the Stale, the average rate of taxation
on $1,000 was S2057 in 1904, S2l.03 in
1900 and $20.S7 in 1906.
The finances of the State are in eX.
cellent condition. as the following
summary and comparison will show
Cash balance on hand Jan. 1,
lj0i ................ 53S.OOO
Bonded Gabt Jan. l. 1907. 81 ,093, 900
Since 1901 $4,000 of the State
hnn1- ho,n hat
under the provisions OF Chapter 6,
Private and Special Laws of 1908, a
part of this issue having been previ-
ously purchased. there was left to ma
ture $4,000 fer the year 1905 and $780,
coo for the year 1906, which were re-
deemed at maturity, and under au-
thOrity of the act above quoted, an
additional purchase of $2S0,OG0 was
made. so that during the last two
years the bonded Indebtedness has
been reduced $4,000.
The last State valuation upon which
q tax rate OF IL mills was assessed,
was $500 Oh, Welding, for the two
years, together with the tax of one
cent on each poll, revenue of
sl,S"G, $500.
The present valuation is 1924, 1872
900, showing an increase of S2S,21S,-
97G.
A tax rate of 10 mills levied on
this new valuation. together with the
poll tax, will yield for the two years, a
revenue of s1.977.474.G6
The total receipts for the
years 1865 and 1906
Were ...............$ S., 292 1868. 70
The total expenditures for
the same years were. :. 1885, 1897. 62
TIE estimated ordinary re-
.ceipts for 1907 are. 50 sos, $780, 90
The estimated ordinary re-
ceipts for 1868 are. .. $3.50. 100000
The estimated ordinary
expenditures for 1907
are ............ 2,o02, 7oS.42
Tie estimated ordinary
expenditures for 1898
are Z,lIU,OUU.VU
1t should be borne in mind while
contemplating these figures and re-
suits. that the last Legislature re-
duced the rate of the State tax from
two and three-quarters mills to two
and one-half mills, and l may mention
that at no time during the last two
y II
make a temporary loan.
1t will be noticed that the cash bal
ance now on hand is unusually large.
It was expected that before the close
Of the year 1906 an additional pur-
chase of the States bonds would be
made amounting to not less than
$3.50, 900. and thus show a reduction
of the bonded Indebtedness during the
last two years of nearly 100000. Ne
gOtiations to this end were progress.
ing satisfactorily when they were
abruptly terminated by the death of
one of the parties in interest. These
negotiations. however. are about to be
resumed. and have every reason to
believe that before tho expiration of
another month the bonds will be in
the possession of the State.
have been afforded the privilege
to visit intimately all the institutions
supported and managed by the State,
and have visited many of the others
in which the State has vital, al.
though indirect. interest. No one
can become at all familiar with them
without being tremendously i'm
pressed by the magnitude and charac.
ter of the good work they are doing,
or without wishing that the opportun-
tiles they so splendidly utilize might
be further enlarged and sustained
They are credit to the State and a
tribute to every sentiment of human
ity and progress cherished by her
people 1t would be better for the in
situations and for all of us If our citi.
zens generally would acquire a closer
knowledge of their methods of admin.
istration and their accomplishments
for the pride and satisfaction such
knowledge would surely bring would
not only be a deserved appreciation OF
the devoted and unselfish services OF
the men and women charged with
their direct control. but would remove
forever all doubt as to the wisdom OF
their existence and the urgency OF
their needs.
The States business transacted
through and in its several Depart
ments and Institutions has steadily
increased. The reasons for this are
obvious. New legislation is constant
ly creating additional powers and re-
sponsibilities of public nature, and
the obligation to exercise them in q
manner that shall be in accord with