Semi-weekly herald., 1908-11-02
TAXES REDUCED
BY REPUBLICANS
Coston Makes Eloquent Plea for Continuance
Of Republican Rule Compares Taxes Under
Democratic and Republican Commissioners

John p. Coston, Democratic nom-
inee for assessor for third term,
had three column signed article
in Saturday mornings Democrat
which was the strongest campaign
document in favor Of Republican
rule that has been published this
year. Mr.. Coston is regarded as
the shrewd politician of the Demo-
cratic party, hence his utterance is
remarkable, from the fact that
most of the space was devoted to
showing that the farmer and the
property holder as a rule are pay
ing less taxes at the present time
and for several years past than
in the history Of the county, or
rather for several years previous
to 1904, when Mr.. Coston took
office. Now SO Mr.. coston cannot
accuse The Herald of garbIing fig
ures we quote him as follows:
To arrive at how the farmers and
stockmen have been and are being as
sessed. take the average value of an
acre of farm land In 1902 it was $1S
per acre at 81 NJ, state and county
tax, which amounts to &C cents per
acre.
In 1903 it was SIS per acre at 32
NJ, state and county tax, which
"a MT To
The above tax includes an average
special school levy of 10 mills
During the time Mr.. Coston was as
SCISSOR, the assessment was as follows:
In 1905 it was SIG per acre at 2S
mills, state and county tax, which
amounts to As cents per acre.
In 1906 1t was SIG per acre at 26 mill
state and county tax, which amounts
to AZ cents per acre.
In 1907 it was s15.10 per acre at 30
mills, state and county tax, which
amounts to As cents per acre.
The above tax includes an average
special school tax of 10 mills. By
these figures you can readily see that
the average tax was about one-third
higher on agricultural lands during the
years of 1902 and 1903 and for 1904,
than It was during the years of 1905,
1906 and 1907.
Now take cattle for the same pc
RODS of time and you will have for
each of the years, respectively, the
figures to-wit:
In 1902 the value per head was
s14.3O at 81 mills state and county
tax, which amounts to 521a cents per
head.
In 1903 the value per head was
$1543, at 35 mills state and county
tax, which amounts to "a lilo cents
per head.
In 1904 the value per head was
s1427, at 80 mills state and county
tax, which amounts to 45 2-3 cents
per head.
In 1905 the value was $l2 per head
at 2S mills state and county tax, which
amounts to 33 2-3 cents per head.
In 1906 the value was $1O.97, at 26
mills state and county tax, which
amounts to 2Sk cents per head.
In 1907 the value per head was
s11.15, at 80 mills state and county
tax, which amounts to 80 1-S cents
per head.
To make these figures interesting tt
home builders and owners in Durango
let us take a small home, valued at
say $4,000 and compare the amount o
tax paid for each of the following
years:
In 1902, assessed value $1,000, rat
45 mills, amounts to $50.
In 1903, assessed value $2,ooo, rat
So mills. amounts to $l04.
In 1904, assessed value $1,000. rat
40 mills, amounts to s9s.
In 1905, assessed value $4,000, rat
40 mills, amounts to $50.
In 1906, assessed value $4,000, rat
80 mills, amounts to SIS.
A $1,000 stock of merchandise /
@1s04 was taxed $40, in 1907 $39.
Now, Mr.. Voter, what better
argument do you want than the
above for the splendid way ir
which the tax levy has been re-
duced and kept down in La Plata
county under the Republican ad-
ministration Of Charlton and lo-
gan. Mr.. coston takes great pride
in showing the reduction in taxes
to both the farmer, stockman and
property owner the past few years
to what il was previous to 1904.
Now every voter in the country
knows that during the first years
quoted there was Democratic ma
t..i<x IN xbs ho rd of conn mi n on