St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-11
POLICE JURY
Covington, La, July 6, 1908


The Police Jury met on the above
date.
Present Geo. Koepp, Jr, President,
Mark Fitzgerald, Herman Schultz, G.
F. Bierhorst, Crawford Williams, A.
D. Crawford, J. J. Cusach, B. A.
Schneider and J. W. Decker.
1t was moved and seconded that the
Police Jury adjourn and meet as a
Board Of Reviewers. Carried.
Covington, La. July 6, 1908.
The Police Jury met as Board of
Reviewers on the above date. All
members present:
It was moved and duly seconded
that the regular business of the day
be taken up. Carried.
The following communication was
read:
Covington, La, July 5, 1908.
To the honorable President and mem
bers of the Police Jury of st. Tam
many Parish, State of Louisiana.
Gentlemen:-I desire to call your
attention to the rate of assessment
fixed by the State Board of Equaliza-
ton, and on all virgin pine land. This
IdJC LluSI CO1IbIOl yOuL OOAy LA tAAS
work as a Board of Reviewers.
You have no right to alter the rate
as fixed by the Board of Equalization.
In view of the fact that this Parish
is now involved in litigation as to the
question, whether or not the rate of
assessment on virgin timber lands
fixed by the Board Of Equaizers is
legal or not, it would be wise that
your Board fix the same rate on virgin
timber lands as that fixed by the Board
of Equalizers, even if you could legally
alter it, because | understand that all
large timber holders of virgin pine
lands are going to attempt to induce
your Board to fix the rate of assess
ment at twelve dollars per acre as you
had originally fixed for the year 1907,
and which was changed by the State
Board of Equalization to nearly seven
teen dollars per acre. Their purpose
is to use that fact, should your Board
reduce the rate of assessment, as evil
dence tending to establish the fact
that twelve dollars per acre is the true
and real value of their virgin pine
land holdings and the rate fixed by
the State Board Of Equalization is in
correct, erroneous and consequently IL
legal. Whether or not this rumor is
true, do not know. But, / do know
that the courts will very shortly de-
eide whether the rate fixed by the
Board of Equalization is legal or not.
If the courts decide that the rate is
legal and within the power of said
State Board, your body will be COM
PEELED to accept and adopt it as your
fixed rate of assessment. Therefore,
it is wiser for your Board to adopt the
rate of assessment as fixed by the
State Board, until the courts can de-
eide the question, and I very earnestly
advise you so to do. BY doing this
no injustice to the tax payer will be
done, nor injustice to the State and
Parish, and no legal complications will
arise. Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH B. LANCASTER,
District Attorney.
P. S. It was my purpose to appear
before your body in person, but am
compelled to attend court at Frank
linton. j. 3. LANCASTER.
Covington, La. July 6, 1908.
To the honorable President and mem
bers of the Police Jury, Parish of
St. Tammany, La.
Gentlemen: have classified and
raised the Great Southern Lumber Co.'S
lands as follows: Sc, 453.47 acres from
S12 to SIS 90, maintaining the same
value as turned in by the Board of
Equalization for 1907, this being the
virgin timber, making total of
81, 462, 1872; and 10, 453.47 acres at 5 90
as partly cut off, making $52, 267,
making total of 81, SIS, 059.
The assessment of the G. S. Lbr.
Co., as turned in by their agents,
amounts to SIG, 566, being difference
as deducted from my amount of $685.,
493. Respectfully yours,
WARREN THOMAS, Assessor.
Covington, La, July s, 1908.
To the Honorable the President and
Members of the Police Jury,
Parish of St. Tammany, La:
Gentlemen-I have maintained the
assessment on virgin timber at SIS 81,
the same as that fixed by the State
Board of Equalization for 1907 !; and
classified 1864. 81 acres as virgin, the
balance as turned in by the Salmen
Brick and Lumber Co. | have accepted
same at their figures.
In the town of Slidell they have
turned in their assessment on plant,
improvements, ETC.. $97, 438, and /
have raised same 5000, 900, making
their entire assessment in the town
of Slidel 1927, 438.
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN THOMAS,
Assessor.
1t was moved by Mr.. Crawford,
seconded by Mr.. Cusachs, that all
virgin timber lands be assessed as fol-
lows: Glass A, SIP. Glass b, So,
and class C atS4. Motion was carried.