The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1907-08-30

j. 7. DuPham's atform.


To the citizens of Winn Parish:
Gentlemen: In coming before
you for endorsement for assessor,
| do so with due appreciation and
gratitude for the handsome vote
you gave me in our primary four
years ago. For the first time in
the history of the State of Lou
isiana, the assessors are elected
by direct vote of the people.
This is as it should be. The
people should elect their officers.
And most especially do | believe
that the intelligent white citizens
of this Parish are competent to
choose their own assessors and L
am willing to trust their judgment
in the coming election.
While | am serving my first
term as assessor. L am studying
the work closely and have ep-
deavored to honestly and con-
scientiously do my duty. My as
seciation and connection with the
other officials and both the police
jury and school board, have been
very pleasant. la approving my
assessment each year, think the
police jury (whom l might say
are some of our best representa-
tive men) did so, realizing, if not
fully, at least partially. what
task it is to make an equitable
assessment.
While / am only an ordinary
man, yet | am mot ashamed of
my record as assessor, and the
experience / have had, will better
enable me tn do the work more
correctly another term.
1t has been my purpose to
make a uniform assessment of
the property throughout the
parish, increasing the assessment,
proportionately only on the
property that increased in value;
AID likewise decreasing the as
sessment on property that had
decreased In value.
coLtended four years ago that
90 or go per cent of the cash
value of property was sufficient,
and would be in harmony with
other parishes in the State, which
has proven to be true, and l have
endeavored this year to assess all
property at 80 per cent, or half
its cash value, and instead of
reducing the assessed value of
the timbered lands of our parish,
as some at that time suspected, L
have about $4,000 acres, assessed
at $50 per acre that were assessed
ut $40 per acre in 1904, and L
have other timber lands in pro-
portion, and still have property
assessed at only about half value.
have made an increase each
year on certain classes of
property assessed ut only about
half value.
/ have made an increase each
year on certain classes of property
and have been successful in hold
ing the assessment without a
contest in the courts.
The assessment has increased
from $2,800,000, in 1904, to
S., 100000 in 1907. This increase
has been due largely to the
increased wealth of our parish,
the building of saw mills, the
enhanced value of timber lands,
town property, etc.
The school districts have been
especially, benefited by this
increase; as many of these
districts are composed largely of
timbered lands, the schools are
deriving larger per cent of their
revenues from the men who own
the wealth of this country. This
fund alone has increased from
1854, in 1904, to $4,000, in
1906, enabling our parish to have
longer terms of schools. build
better school houses, and without
extra cost. with few exceptions,
to the resident tax payers.
l have given special attention
to these districts, as they require
a great deal of work. have
spent no little time and money
each year to keep and work them
up.
Now, fellow citizens, l have no
catch vote proposition to offer;
no hobby on which l expect to
ride into Office. My policy is,
you might call it my platform,
do right, perform my duty fear
lessly, honestly and conscientious
ly serving my people. This l
assure you | will endeavor to do,
If you elect me assessor.
Very respectfully,
j. I. DURHAM.