Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-12-16
TAX COMMISSION REPORT
Livestock Falls OF With Extension
OF Farming-Cities Pay Bulk
of the Taxes.

commissions biennial report show
that during the past Ave years the
total assessed valuation Of the tax
able property in the state has in
creased over 100000 a year, or
exactly $577,705,419. In the year
1905 the taxable property in the
state was valued at $327,542,5
this year the value is $906,247,944.
The tax commission takes the past
five years for purposes of COMPARE
son, the commission having been
created five years ago The report
is now being prepared to be submit
ted to the governor.
Five years ago the assessed value of
all real property was $244 ,089,S70
it is now $692766,995, an increase
of $44S,6770S5.
Steam railroads, then assessed at
$26,7S9,665, are now assessed at
$100,157,754, an increase of $73,-
368,099.
Great Land improvements.
Five years ago there were $3.50
625 acres of improved land in the
state. Unfortunately under the sys-
TEN of assessment then in vogue, no
attempt was made to separate the
values of improved or unimproved
lands 1t is consequently impossible to
arrive at its value. There are now,
however, 6,173,688 acres OF i'm
proved land within the state, valued
at $140, 175,243, or an average of
$22.71 per acre. Improvements on
these lands are assessed at an aver
age of $3.49, making the average
assessed value of farm lands, includ-
ing improvements thereon, $1,000 jer
acre. 1t is to be noted that 2,443,-
063 acres of raw land have been
placed in cultivation during the past
five years.
In 1905 town and city lots, with
improvements, were assessed at
$130,619,726, this year they stand at
$377,275,92S, an increase of $246,-
756,202.
In 1905 there were 18,747,997I
acres of land, improved and unim-
proved and including timber lands,
etc, within the state which includ-
ing improvements, were assessed at
$114, 100, 144, or an average of $500
per acre. There are now 22,147,869
acres assessed at 1901, 563,856, or an
average of 1892 per acre.
There are no leans of ascertain
ing the acreage of timbered lands
for 1905, but from careful investiga-
lions made by the tax commission 1t |
was found that 1t was assessed at
that time at an average of $4.S8 per
acre. There are 5,628,666 acres re-
turned as timber land, assessed at
$76,470, 056, or an average of $3.50
per acre, an increase of 1871 per |
acre over the assessment of 1905.
Falling Of in Livestock.
AT that time the taxable value of |
personal property In the state was
$57,663, 1000. 1t is now $113,323,-
1875, an increase of $50, 662,195 and |
in this connection it may be of inter
est to note that in 1906 there were |
406,5 500 head of cattle in the state, |
while at the present time there are
only 305,50S, or falling off of
1O1,061 during the past five years.
Five years ago there were 525,77Ol
sheep, while the returns for the pres
ent year show but 359,407, or a loss
of 1868. OF the cattle now re-
turned 186,006, or approximately 50
per cent, are mich COWS. The fall
ing off in the number of cattle and
sheep can be attributed largely to
the fact that the additional 2,443,-
063 acres of land put under the pillow
DUNG the past five years has reduced
pasturage to that extent. In 1906
there were 210,716 horses within
the state, having an average value
of $29.07. There are now 258,340I
horses, with an average of 1882.
OF these, 154,251, or approximately
60 per cent, are work horses. Then
the value of horses, cattle, sheep, |
hogs, etc, was $12,766,441; it is |
now $18,983,433.
Segregated Valuation
At that time, five years ago. there
were 26,179 pianos and organs,
valued at $1,760,520; there are now
54,766, valued at $4,6521,O33. Then
all household goods, office furniture,
and including jewelry, silver plate,
books, organs, pianos, sewing ma
chimes, etc, were valued at Sill
12S,524. The same articles are now
assessed at $26,283,S85. Agricul-
tural implements. machinery, harm
ess, etc, we're assessed in 1906 att
$1,74S,130; now at $2,403.512.