Putnam patriot., 1909-07-02
Municipal Register of the cip of Putnam

The Municipal Register of the City of Putnam, for l9os. just issued, has a new and important feature added to the Mayors Message and the reports of the heads of the various city depart ments, which must be greatly appre- ciated by all our citizens, especially our tax payers. The new feature consists of list of the names of resident pre- perty owners description of the proper- ", yaluationi at which it is assessed, and the amount of tax paid.
 The list of names of nen-residents is also given iabout 100l, and description of property, valuation and amount of tax, but the location--the City Clerk not being able to locate IL on account of not being given on the taxable list.
 This presentation of the valuation of property of the city. and the tax rate, may lead to q revaluation, not only of the city property but that of the entire town. About year ago the Putnam Business Mems Association Invited the State Tax Commissioner, Wm. H. Cor. bin, to come to this city and address our citizens on the subject of valuation and taxation of property.
 His address deeply impressed all who heard him of the need of revaluation of all property in the town. The Com- missioner declared 1t Is for the best in- terest of the town to place 2 correct market valuation on all property, as the law demands. Even If the valaa- tion is made little too high there can be no loss to the tax. payer, as the tax will be correspondingiy reduced. Take the town of Putnam as an example. If the valuation is placed al two-thirds, and the tax rate is placed at 9 mills, the rate is made to appear unnecessari- ly high, to the Injury of the town. Placing the true valuation for assess ment on the property, and tax of 6 mills yields the same amount of taxes as did the g mills.
 He said, further, that the State In taxing towns did not accept their val uations, but fixes It's own valuation for taxation. He also stated that there Is no record to show when the valuation of Putnam property was made, and there ought to be revaluation every five years.
 Mayor John ]. McGarry's Message In the Register, Is short and business like, but leaves nothing unsaid that the public should know. The present net debt of the city, is $a0, ,2Ss-being street improvement bonds.
 Among the recommthdations the Mayor feels compelled to say:
 "Eirst, the installation of an ade- quate sewerage system to carry of the filth that Is now poliuting the surface water drain that Is running through our city streets.
 1.-The condition Is such that unless something is done speedily for the bet terment, an epidemic Is liable to arise, there being 40 and 50 connectlons-toil- cts, sinks, etc., now emptying into the drain.
 .sSecond, 1 recommend that action be taken relative to the collection of un- paid taxes"
 It was for this reason that he advised that the tax list be printed in the an- nual report that the taxpayers should see and know the conditions of things for themselves.
 Health Officer Dr. Omer LaRue, in his report, speaks his mind freely, as he always does, about certain matters that should receive public attention. Like the Mayor, he urges the impera- tive need of sewerage. He also speaks of the danger to the health Of the city from the illegal use of the city drains for sewerage purposes. He also points out causes that led to numerous cases of typhoid fever, cholera morbus, and other sickness. Some of the worst causes have been removed.
 Michael R. Joy, Chief Engineer Of the Fire Department, in his report, gives a full and clear report of the condition of affairs In his department. We are surprised 10 notice, however, after vi- wildly describing the prompt alertness of the firemen to undergo their many hardships and ready daring 10 risk even life in the performance of their danger ous duties, that tive are all too apt to forget those who render us the greatest service.r So far as we are aware, noth- Ing but words of praise and encourage ment have been spokensof our gallant firemen-which they richly deserve tor their alert response to every call of du- ty, night and day, and their prompt activity has, undoubtedly, been the means of saving much valuable pro- perty, that through the lesst tardiness would have been destroyed. No, the citizens are notfunappreciative, but are proud of their gallant and daring boys Of the Fire Department--ipciuding their Chiefs, present and past.
 Last year the firemen were called out 24 times, but only once during the summer months