Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-20
STATE HOUSE.
Great Increase in Wild
Land Taxes.
Former Speaker Rhode Island
House a Visitor.
Praises the State Library and the
Assembly Rooms.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Thursday, April 20.

| Prominent members of the Order of
| Patrons of Hushandry who are oppos-
ed to the present law in regard to the
| distribution of the school mill fund
tax, which provides for a distribution
| of IA portion of the school fund accord
| ing to valuation, and others who are
| interested simply in the problem of
distribution itself have taken measures
| to provide themselves with a great
deal of valuable data concerning Maine
wild land. The board of State asses
sors in this connection recently pre-
pared a brief review of the history of
the distribution and taxation OF wild
lands from which il is shown that the
valuation of the wild lands of the
State has increased 129 per cent. in
the last 10 years and the tax over 500
per cent. The following paragraphs
| from the review are of interest:
In 1920 Maine owned about 300
| 600 acres of wild land In 1853 the
State bought of Massachusetts 000.-
900 acres for 1885,. 500 making about
$1,000 acres that Maine has owned.
| From the start the Maine Legislature
sold and gave away this land tno
| doubt in good faith) for every con-
ceivable purpose. Liberal terms were
| offered to settlers. A colony of Swedes
were practically given township in
| | S64. Twelve townships We're sold to
build the State House. Liberal grants
were made to colleges, academies, sol
diers of the revolutionary war and
their widows. Lots of 1000 acres each
were set aside for school and minis
terial purposes in each town. These
school or public lots still belong to
the State until the town is incorporat-
ed when they become a part OF the
school fund. Grants We're also made
to build bridges, encourage grist mills,
saw mills, or in general the State used
the wild land to develop the State by
selling or making grants, but in every
case the Legislature made the mistake,
il il WAS by mistake.
The auction sales of which there
mas been much said. one in 1874 and
another in 1875, resulted in the sale
of 2l4.l44 acres. These sales were
mad" by acts of the Legislature and
because they thought they needed the
money more than the land
In lisa. after being discussed by
previous Legislatures the State grant
ed 100000 acres of land to the Europ-
can and North American Railroad
ron Bangor to New Brunswick This
land at the time was valued at 5000
600 The State now owns the public
lots held in trust for the towns. 334.-
4S1 acres and part of Indian Town
ship.
Number of acres of wild land in
the State aside from public lots. o.
II 1855. Valuation in 1901, $I9.l27, 400.
Valuation per acre in 1901. $40 Nalu-
alton in 1911, s43.SS0, SG3. Valuation
per acre in 1911. $$4.S1. State tax for
1901 at .o02A mills. $53,60o. State tax
Tor 1911 at .006 mills. 1858, $50. For
estry District tax for 1911 at .0015
mills, s65,S20. Total State and For
estrN District tax for 1911. $329.1O5.
In addition to this there is a county
tax of about .6015 and in some cases "A
road tax, and if any of the logs are
cut. they are taxed in the town where
the owner lives at the local rate