Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-01-25
FIVE MILLION
RAISE IN VALUES
Assessor Jones Sees Large
Increase in Assessment
This Year
TO MAKE STATE AVERAGE
Old Valuation Was Excuse
of State to Penalize
Chehalis County

Il believe that the assessed valua-
ton of real estate and timber lands
in Chehalis county should be increas-
ed $5,000,000,' said Assessor f. E.
Jones, "and We must do this. or pay
annually into the state, a heavy as
sessment until we bring our valua.
tions up, to the Herald the other day.
The assessed value of the county
was increased $2,OO0,OO0 last year
and, as a result of the raise. the state
board of equalization raised the per-
cent that the assessment bore to the
actual value, from 20 to q percent
"Chehalis county is still SO percent
lower than the average assessed val
uation of the property OF the state,
and the increase must come sooner
or later.
"The Northern Pacific will pay $780,
600 in taxes this year. against $32,-
600 last year and the O. w. R. & N.
company will pay $1,000 exclusive
of its North River extension, which
we assessed locally, because it was
not completed, and fixed the assess.
ment at little over $1,000 per mile.
Il have written the commercial or
ganizations in Chehalis county, as to
what they think would be proper in
an increase in valuations, and while
l will not be bound by their actions,
will be influenced to q certain de-
gree.
II believe these men all realize that
the assessments in Chehalis county
In many instances are unfair and un.
equal and they will welcome the plan
being put on a fair basis, bringing
up valuations and cutting down the
levy.
There are a great deal of un-
equal assessments in the cities, also
any amount of property assessed too
law. The basis assessment. if fixed
at so per cent. and adhered to, would
give Chehalis county it's proper
standing in the state, regarding an
mission.
II desire to cite two instances of
the low valuations on property in
both Hoquiam and Aberdeen. In Alb
erdeen several days ago, Wheeler
Brothers, who own a tract of land
on Heron street, it is stated. refused
an offer of 100000 for their property
The assessed valuation on this prop
erty is between $4,000 and $4,000, or
percent of the value of the proper
ty. In Hoquiam. DR.. T. C. Frary re
ceived $4,000 cash for a 100 foot lot.
corner Seventh and ] streets, which
was assessed at $4,000 and he appear
ed before the board last year and
asked to have it cut down. This was
assessed at one third of it's value.
Il also desire to say that the re-
port published that l was not to be
a candidate for reelection, is a can
ard. l never made such a state
ment. I am the assessor of Chehalis
county and have a certain amount of
work to do and want the people to
realize that l am going to do that
work to the best of my ability.
Regarding the taxation of logged
off lands, l will say that l intend to
place the valuations on this that will
force some of these big corporations
to let loose of them. If they hold
them priceless. then they should be
made to pay for them. Their action
is an injury to this section and the
sooner that we compel the owners
of this property to sell it at a reason.
able rate, to allow men to build up
homes, the sooner our city will grow
and the better it will be for the en-