Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-30
TIMBER PROPERTY TAXES.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning
The Taxation of TimberIands.
Editors kennebec Journal:

Editors kennebec Journal:
| In q State which has so long had an
immense timber industry it is strange
that the general public should know so
! little of the facts of timber property
| taxation.
And it is peculiarly unfortunate at
this time, when through this very lack
of information, the State is in grave
danger of losing an industry SO i'm
| portant TO its welfare.
In Colonial days the forest was
| looked upon merely as an obstacle to
| mans progress in making his home,
i and so treated.
| At this time the sole interest of the
| State was to turn it's lands into money
! as rapidly as anyone could be found to
| buy, and it is only within recent years
| that their importance has been APP
| preciated, even by the present owners.
But with the past we have nothing
to do: it is the present situation that
! is vital for on it depends the question
OF the future.
| In dealing with timber property
| taxes, il has been usual to refer sim
Ply TO the State tax rate OF mills on
| wild lands, comparing it with the aver
| age rate of 20 mills in municipalities.
| To state that taxes on timber prop
erty are low because the State tax rate
| on wild land is but 3 mills is mislead-
| ing, as would be instantly apparent
were the public as well informed as
| they should be.
| To say that q man is cheaply clothed
because he has paid but a quarter for
a collar. would be plainly absurd, and
vet it is but little more SO than the for,
| mer statement.
| The State tax rate on wild land
! towns is neither more nor less than on
other towns, nor is it all the tax in
either case, FOR the land is but part of
the property. and the less valuable
| part at that.
| In addition to the State land tax
rate of mills, is the county land tax
| rate of from $40 to 80 mills When
| logs are cut, the municipality, in which
| the owner lives taxes them at an aver
age rate Of 20 mills, part of which goes
| to the State and the county.
| The State receives tax at the rate
of mills on the land. and mills on
the logs. the county a tax of from
$40 to 1 $40 mills on the land, and the
same on the logs, while the balance of
the log tax, at an average rate. Of d.
mills goes to the municipality.
In addition, if any of the same logs
are carried over till another tax date.
the State, the county, and-the town re-
ceiva another tax. EMA
s$:':; u! s.s ;ss ' in "a 90 s; the
mill until July. ~.
The saving season begins May 1st
l dc let -
sAA single saw cuts. in round numbers
Il Ia jnillion feet Of lumber q month, or 6
tmilAcn a season. -'.
Il The first year a mill runs. il can sa W.
but H1months,- as the logs deIbM reach
lit iIxtfme for full seasons Shaving. :.
i To hraside' for full seasons work in
Succeeding wears. 6.million feet of logs
apestut THE first year 2 million feet of
Il which are carried over. and each sre-
II ceedine winter 6 million feet are a6f-
Il Just Ehotgh for one season s, saving.
3 The first year. a tax, is 1eyied on 6
! million feetS but earha succeeding year
: the levy is orl<S million feet though but
milliep have been cut iasy one
year.
WafS it possible. TO sbring M{ hgs. to
the ntfn by May fst, instead July
no additional tax could be leviedss9@= I
as IL is, the lumberman's yeai4 AE.
: IA 1nonths long. and of necessitysU&e
;, lanssach other
! ztown valued at 800, 900 pays taxess
Bows: y
L 81 Tax a, mills. ....... sse9a
Ss6nnty Tax q. 1-96 mills; ......: S1se0
IMfnicipal Tax on 6.0o1. 60J # of &sss
logs valued q $500 per 1000 la
Il ft.s e. 20 mills......,............ seo8
+ Municipal Tax on 100000 #. III:
carried over ..... .s.-............ sosyY4
: Total Annual Tar on the
I Rate II NILS.
: l. Were the land taxed -at 90 mis- as
e some people want IT to be, the ~
would be: IGsS5;, f'
e State & County. Land Tax at; 80. ;
|, e mills .......4y. ~ l9yh
t Municipal Log Tax .....,..,:..4 ~
5 Total sannual tax o. prop:
n Fate, 32.s mills ~.
Il NIien the wild land was first decided
: away by the State. the rights in it:
d fish and game and the rights to go or
e tf 1kznd and water in pursuit of. then
= VI IT served TO the peoples ri.
n Sc rights stand as f6adamepta
/ iiaS bidding in perpetuitys. fors sth,
Swa@ Apd for the land until it is cd
= tbis not So. and the rights
10 w11 Fted in the landowners. thcl
le coH1 leased or sold sSto fish ant
!; game fbs for large sums.
,e Bue esa rights were withheld an,
4 the mS4ey which would iotherwis
n pass to'Ahe landowners. passes to tn
lie people at large from the multitude o
% hunters and fishermen coming annual
l. ly to theStatc from all over the coun
Of try. 5a
ID Through licenses to non-residen
IA sportsmerI the State yearly receive
~ large sums 1t would not receive wer
e its fish and game rights in priva t
as hands. '4
ct =, 1t is but just and equitable tina
n property, in which such valuable right
= are reserved by the State, should pa
~ less taxes than other property i
n which rights are complete.
n Much of the area of many towns