The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-05-30
VERY PO0RN0W
SOME AMUSING EXPERIENCES
THE TAx-LIsTERs HAVE.

As rule people generally are the
poorest along about this time Of the
year than at any other season. 1t Is
tax-listing time and scores and scores
of people are accounting themselves
poor indeed. They own mighty little
Of this worlds goods.
One of the tax-listers gives anus
ing accounts OF his experience in the
house to house listing process now
going on. At one place he found the
lady Of the house busy busting with
dextefity and feather buster. The
house was wide open, the rugs were
nicely adjoining the porch ratings,
and she informed the listers that
everything was in readiness. Z
When asked for what, she replied,
for you all to come in and make the
examination. ! heard that you go In
and examine everything in the house,
count the silver. and see what people
have" She was assured that that
was false alarm, and the listers
We're only asking questions, and go
ing upon the words of the household
ers, with no intention of searching or
invading the private precincts Of the
homes.
Another lister says he approached
a humble cottage, and was met by
the mother, with an infant in her
arms, and four small tots surround
ins her as she came to the door.
When asked If she had any taxes to
list, informed him that she had
nothing but these brats and two
cats, and he could list them If he
wanted to-.
Another lister says he went his
rounds in one section, along about
the first of May, and had occasion to
20 that way again to look up a piece
of property, and behold he found
that a man who had listed on the
first round, had new houses going
up to beat any band you ever heard
OF. He thinks he will have to 90
that way again.
Another lister tells Of reaching
house the front door of which was
propped open with a brick, covered
with plush, on which was worked Il
love you so much" and from the
rear came voices in an angry quarrel
that betokened anything but love and
harmony. What a mission that brick
could be sent on IL 1t fell into the
hands OF the angry householders.
The tax-lisiers telling amusing in
cidents of where they are taken for
book-agents, insurance agents and
collectors. and where the mother
famialias takes up the children, calls
in the dogs and HES the whole push
to the storm cellar of safety, where
they are not TO be quizzed by listing
questions. These listers say they are
finding few dogs. They will see one
or more about the house. but they
are told they belong to some one else,
a neighbor; and in one instance the
lister was told that a particular dog
had come in from the country and
was only staying there few days.
He was staying all right.
Many people get the idea that
there would be a great raise in the
assessment Of property this year. but
that Is an erroneous idea. Where
have been made in the
past four years: streets graded and
macadamized. and sidewalks laid.
there has been some increase, as Is
naturally to be expected, but, so far
as learned, there has been no heavy
raises. There will, however. be a
very perceptible addition to the tax
able property in the city by virtue or
new buildings, and other improve
ments. Last year the assessed value
OF property In the corporation OF
Durham was in the neighborhood Of
eighteen millions and some hum
dreds OF thousands of dollars. This
years assessment will. II is thought.
bring II up to something like twenty
millions.
A woman Is afraid only or the