Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-05-27
FOREST TAXATION.
STUDY OF THE PROBLEM NOW
BEING MAINE.
COMPARISON OF SYSTEMS PROPOSED
IN NEW YORK AND MAINE-BAD
FEATURES OF MAINE PLAN.

FEATURES OF MAINE PLAN.
The first exhaustive study of the forest
: taxation problem as it is presented by the
actual workings of existing laws to be
attempted by any state, has just been be-
gun by the New Hampshire state forestry
commission, in cooperation with the
United States forest service. The study
will take in all of the many questions of
orest-land taxation and the protection of
New Hampshire forests from fires. II
necessary to complete the work, 5000 will
be available. J. H. Foster, of the forest
service, was sent from Washington to take
up the Investigations on the ground i'm
mediately.
Because of its thoroughness, New
Hampsbire's study is sure to be followed
with great interest by New York, Maine,
Mich igan, Pennsylvania and the other
states which are finding the forest-tax
problem a serious check to forest preser-
walton. Mr.. Foster will find out by palms.
taking inquiry in different parts Of the
state and among all classes OF citizens
just how the present laws are admins
/
their effect is on the lumber industry and
forest preservation. The result will be to
furnish New Hampshire with a better
basis for revising its system of taxing for
est lands than any state has ever had be-
fore, if changes in the present law are
found to be needed.
Taxation OF tim berland is regarded BY
| office re Of he forast servica aS opa - = Ia
most important matters now up for dis
cussion. They believe that upon the right
settlement of this question largely depends
the rapidity with which private owners
adopt forestry. Agitation for change is
taking place along two directly opposite
| lines-for an increase in the amount of
taxes to be paid by wild lands ON the one
hand, and on the other for the passing of
laws which will partially or wholly exempt
from taxation reforested lands, or will de-
| fer the collection of taxes on the forest
crop until it is harvested.
! Those who urge increasing the tax
believe that this class OF property does not
now pay its just share of the general
tax burden. Those who advocate laws to
tighten the weight OF taxation on forest
lands in one way or another maintain that
the public welfare is promoted by the
preservation of forests, and that the more
heavily they are taxed the more certain it
is that they will either be wiped out
altogether or loose most Of their value
through destructive numbering.
In Maine and New York proposed
changes in existing laws are now up for
discussion. In Maine, a tax commission
appointed by the last Legislature is about
to hold public hearings, and the report
goes that it will be asked to recommend
scheme whereby wild lands may be taxed
on the same basis as municipal property,
or about per cent annually.
In the New York legislature blu has
been introduced which would tax timber
lands managed with the approval of the
forest, fish and game commission at rate
not higher than that for barren, unproduc-
tive land in the same tax district. with an
additional tax OF 8 per cent on the stump
age value of the timber when it is cut.
Both measures would create special class
OF property - in Maine to make it pay
heavier taxes, in New York, lighter.
In Maine the value of standing timber
is regarded as part Of the value of the
land, and the owner is expected to pay a
rising tax as his timber grows more valu-
able, until he cuts it of. In the New York
bill .he timber is regarded as a growing
crop, which, like other growing crops.
should be exempted from taxation until it
is harvested. The New York bill seeka to
encourage forestry rs means of increas-
ing the wealth of the state; the Maine