The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-04-29
THE "VIkING SECTION"
HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED


Editor TRIBUNE:
have read with considerable inter-
est as well as with no small degree Of
surprise, Mr.. l.cTourneau's article in
last issue of the TRIBUNE, entitled,
Viking Section to be recognized in
future had thought the Viking Sec
ton had been 'recognized' as well as
the growing section in and around Eden
in so far as the equalization of taxes
are concerned do not doubt Mr.. Lee
Tourneau : perfect sincerity in stating
that the southern end is taxed out of
proportion to the north end of the
county and will even admit his claim
that about 3.5 of the taxes come from
the section in and around Eden, for
the reason that said section is one of
the best cultivated and richest pine
apple sections in the county; but | can
not admit that they are taxed out of
proportion to other sections in which
the property involved is of equal value
to that in Eden section. :
The kissimmee Trust Company lands
for instance containing ten acres OF cul-
tivated land, were taxed at $500 in 1909,
and raised to $500 in 1910; j. HeIseth
having thirty acres of cultivated land,
eleven Of which Is not in bearing pines
assessed in 1909 at $500 stands the
same in 1910, and the KOblegard Plan
tation having forty acres OF cleared
land, some of which has just been set
in pines. is taxed at $25OO in 1909 and
1910. Also Sweet & Williams, having
eleven acres of bearing pines are as.
sessed at $1,000, and GObe Comp is as
sessed at $500 for four acres of cleared
land. 1t must also he borne in mind
that none of the above named lands
are river fronts and are several miles
distant from any populous town or
trading point, which fact ought to
initiate somewhat against the value Of
lands in "Viking section. II
will now give some tax figures in
Eden section, all of which Is shown IN
the record, and will call attention to
the fact that all the property shall
name, by way of comparison, has fine
river front and is very popuiOus
community. The first price | shall
take up is that of j. H. LeTourneau.
having cleared acres amounting to ten,
which is valued at $1,000.
Mr. Z. A. Ireland. is assessed $1,000
on a cultivated average of twelve acres
which piece of land has also fine river
front and nice residence upon it.
Mrs. NJ. V. Turner, is assessed at
$500 for five acres of bearing pines.
and Chas. Edason having fifteen acres
of bearing pines is assessed at S2,6'W.
Mr. Edison has very fine residence,
as all the people in that section know,
and | d0 not see how it can be claimed
that this tax is out of proportion to
that in Viking or other sections. when
conditions are taken into considerations
Mrs. l.. E. LeTourneau's land COM
prising eighteen acres, four of which
is in cultivation, is assessed at 500,
which figures we feel are perfectly
reasonable and just. ~
think the grove mentioned by Mr.
I.eTourneau of that of Mr.. FOrster's.
and the facts are these: When came
into office found this grove assessed
at $500 which | raised the following
wear to $500 and in 1910 raised same
to $500. A large part of this grove is
just coming into bearing, and therefore
could not be raised very much until its
value increased sufficiently to warrant
the raise. The wild lands connected
with this grove amounts to ABOUT the
number of acres named ny Mr.. lIe-
Tourneau but large portion OF this
wild land lies in mangrOve ponds and
can not be utilized. This grove has
Just begun to pay its owner this year
handsomely, and it would have been
unfair to have raised the
tax before it became a paying lnsti-
tuition.
beg to say that it has been my
purpose to treat every man alike, and
If should fail in this ! will appreciate
any one to call my attention to the mat
ter as Mr.. LeTourneau has, and give
me an opportunity either to correct the
error or explain the seeming disc, epency
to the satisfaction of all. 1t is almost
impossible to keep from making mis-
takes, not being infallible, and If some
mistakes have been made, beg my
friends to call my attention to same
and promise you that they will be
corrected as speedily as possible.
Yours to serve, F. G. PoPPELL