The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-03-16


The taxes on these logs will be col
lected in Washburn. Another case is
the assessment OF logs, Belonging
to the Stearns Lumber Co., who
own and operate mill in the city
of Washburn. 5@Ias we'll as the as
SCISSOR ofthiss city tried to get at
how many log s this concern inteud-
ed to saw iustheir mill at Washburn
but we could get no satisfaction,
therefore an assessment for logs is
not made excepting few 1OO, 900
feet that, Were in the mill pond at
Washburn. This company had on
May first at least 10000 900 feet of
logs at the Indian Reservation ia
the town of Sanborn, Ashland
County,. representing a value OF
about $1,25O,O 900, About 5000, 900
| fleet of these are assessed in Bay
field county. The assessmen of
the town of Sanborn Ashland Coun.
| ty. on logs and. lumber appears in
the supervisors report on table 6
under Merchan is and Manufacturers
stock with a total of $468, $50, for
the whole town including about 40,
600, 900 feet of lumber and all other
merchandise. In other words I can
can find nc. assessment OF about go,
900, 900 feet of logs at all. Gentle
men I think that the logs should be
assessed where they are on the first
day of May. The towns having the
logs get no tax for them. OF course
they will be sawed somewhere else,
and the towns; where they are saw
ed get no taxes, of course the asses.
sors are not informed and -cannot
get them on the assessment rolls. l
at least never. got any information
that there was so or so many feet
of logs which should be sawed in
my county. The Washburn mill
cut the whole summer for the
Stearns Lumber Co. :.
reported some logs to the SUI
pervisor tf st. Croix County and to
the assessor Of New Richmond but
l don 'tkuow whether they went on
the roll or not. The towns where
these logs are cut, and piled. are
mostly decreasing and the towns
where these logs will be sawed are
generally increasing in value, and. l
think it is net fair to-. rob our poor
northern towns of these taxes and
make the more developed ones a
present oft. This is what happens
nowif all che logs will be assessed
according to the present law. but 1
have no doubt whatever that we do
not get20 pereent.s of these logs on
the rolls and maybe not ten per
cent of their true value. A change
of this law is-certaiutys needed.
My time allowed by thecounty
board isspent almost entirely in the
field gathering the material for my
report.
-Gentlemeng 1ot the opinion
that we could do mo- justice in cur
northern counties if we sit at home
or in the Office and make our report
from hearsay or from that which a
confidential friend whispers in our
ear. I'VE have to go and see for our
self and base OUR figures ON our own
knowledge; which, together with the
sales reported. and after eliminating
all bolstered up sales or such includ-
ing personal property, using only
good bona fide sales in our computa-
tions. will bringus as near the true
value as possible. Unfortunately
the county boards allow US iusuffi-
cient time for our work in the larger
and timbered counties. The COM
pensation should be fixed by the
amount and character of our work
and not blythe valuation of the
county. We. have. small counties
with high valuations, where the
travelling expenses amount to Moth
ing and where the Supervisors get a
fair compensation, and we have
large coun ties With low valuations
but plenty of work for the Supervi-
sor, but. he can get DO proper com
peusation for his work, therefore he
does not feel like. spending. much
time In the field and his work can.
not be of the best. Now don t feel
that.I wanted to scriticize, tits not
my place or my wish t, do so.
] merely tried to, express some of
my thoughts, and il. what 1 have
said does not find your approval, all
| can say is fire away.