The independent-reporter., 1910-09-22
NAMES VALUATION
ENCOURAGING
State Shows Increase of More Than
Si9,OOe,O00 Say State Assessors


According to n statement given out
by Hon. George Pottle of Lewiston,
chairman of the State Board of Asses
scrs. the increase In the valuation of
the State of Maine is above S19,000,O0O
which is more than double the aver
age increase for the last ten years.
This Increase Is due very largely to
new property, new buildings and new
valuation.
At a meeting of the Board In Ban
gor Chairman Pottle gave out in sub
stance the following statement:
This increase Is large one as
can be readily seen. OF course.
building erection has much to do with
il but complete re-valuation Is also
great factor. For instance, the as
SCISSORS of one city threw aside their
record books and made an independ-
emf valuation. As result an increase
of 10 per cent over the former figures
was shown. In other instances, the
increase ran from five to 40 per cent
The remarkable example, however, is
that of an Aroostook town. Re-yalu-
alton exhibited an increase OF more
than 100 per cent. The rise In land
values had much to do with this
change. One half of the increase
shown this year in State valuation
includes new property, and improve
ments and the other half, re-examin-
alton.
"Of the counties, Cumberland, the
wealthiest, has an approximate in
crease of $4.500,000. York and Aroos-
took, each with an increase of $2,S0O,-
900, come next. Androscoggin, with
only IA cities and towns, shows rise
Of $4,000 900 Then follows Penobscot
with an approximate increase of ST.
700, 900. All the remaining counties
show a smaller increase.
THE city of Bangor has the largest
increase in the State, about S5Q0,00D
having been added.
THE average value of live stock is
higher but the number has not risen.
The dry year of 1908 and '09 caused
the hay crop to fall off but now good
reports are coming in and there Is not
stock sufficient to consume all the
supply. Town assessors report the
general conditions of crops as more
favorable than during the last two
years. Although frost damaged the
sweet corn crop last year, the crop
is now matured SO there is no danger
of shortage, The corn is being
harvested for the factory.
in regard to the apple situation, |
find that it will not be so large this
year. Maine being unfortunate in
this particular while in other parts of
New England, conditions are much
better. During a trip through North
ern New York, Michigan, Indiana and
Ohio, was led to doubt that the ap-
Pile supply would be up to the aver
age. But let no one think that there
will be an apple famine as the coun-
| try Is large and transportation facili-
ties so adequate that IL deficiency
exists in any one section, 1t can be
supplied from some other point.
Fruit culture needs attention from
the people for good orchard Is a
substantial feature of any farm and
returns are always satisfactory
There has been a loss in the apple
crop, especially of the Baldwin brand
and particularly in Kennebec county.
While this is somewhat discouraging
the farmer should bear in mind that
trees are like men; they live and die.
Therefore to perpetuate the orchard,
more trees must be set. Maine ap-
pies, being of good flavor and of ex
cellent keeping qualities, sell most
satisfactorily abroad.
Timber valuation Is not being con-
sidered by the board this year, that Is,
in a special manner as 1t Is only re-
quired that such an examination take
place once every two years and last
year the board investigated this de-
partment of valuation.
1.-THE board of State Assessors serve
as board of equalization. Each
two years the board reports to the
State legislature the valuation of the
entire State, this amount forming a
basis for State and county taxes. If
the local valuation of city or a
town Is believed by the State board to
be below or above the proper amount,
we act accordingly In the change of
valuation.
"The last legislature gave the State
assessors supervision over the local
assessors to the end that all assess
ments should be at the proper value
thus constituting an even basis. This
new law went into effect this year
and notices have been sent to every
local board to obtain reports of val
ues in the cities and towns. Re-
sponses in nearly all cases have been
prompt. From the institution of the
board in 1891, we have preserved the
reports of all the cities and towns
and the collection in the State office
comprises most