Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-05-29
{. ". Pollock, President of the General Ap-
praiSaIS Company Explains Methods
Of Placing Valuations.
COMPANY SELLS Information, NOT ADVICE
Apparent Inconsistency of AppraSaIs Compaa,
Is Explained. County Got Additional
Information Free.

vt values, like minerals, or tim.
i drug prescriptions are dug out
eyed off or compounded and sold
Ose who want them, is the de-
tion of E. w. Pollock, president
he General Appraisal Company,
is now testifying on mill values
Montesano in the tax assessment
Nses.
Mr.. Pollock was asked by The
5rald man to explain the apparent
consistency of his company in Civ.
advice as to values to both the
ounty and the mill men, the two
dverse parties in the law suits in
diving the values of nine of the
argest sawmills in Chehalis County.
"In the first place" said Mr.. Pollock,
,>our company does not sell advice
we sell information. The facts are
not different because they 60 to differ
ent purchasers. The figures or prices
or information we compile is made
from any desired angle and this in
formation we sell. In this matter,
both sides employed us to compute
certain values from certain specified
points of view."
Then you are not taking the mill
mems side in this matter?" ..
mot at all. We occupy neutral
ground and endeavor to look. at all
) the elements which go to make up
the values. Our position seems in
consistent only because people are
accustomed to employ experts to give
their opinions, while we sell facts
and not opinions. When we appraise
a plant and say it is worth certain
sum, we have to back up our figures
several hundred closely written pages
Of report giving the details. These
details are worked down to the point
where they are capable of veriflca-
ton"
Does the county get the market
values"
"Yes, wherever the mill men have
employed us to work out the market
value, we have turned this value over
to the assessor. at his request and
with the permission of the owner
The county has the replacement and
the deprecated values with schedules
of depreciation and in the case now
on trial the county is claiming that
the deprecated value which we work
ed out shall be used for assessment
purposes while the min men are con.
tending for the use Of the market
value"
III there had been a clear and de-
finite understanding Of the term true
value then, the present trouble would
have been settled by your report
would it,"
"Yes, as I understand it, 1t is sim
ply matter of constituting the mean
ing Of the statutes. The law says
that all property shall be assessed
at its true and fair value in money
and the lawmakers sought to make
this definition more clear by directing
the assessor that he must not take
an auction price nor forced sale fig
ure. To clinch the matter once and
for all the law goes still further and
says that the true cash values Of pro
perty shall be that value at which
the property would be taken in pay
ment Of a just. debt from a solvent
debtor"
Does the efficiency of mill have
anything to do with its value?"
1T does with its market value, but
not with its replacement or depre
ciated value. For instance one con
spicuous plant in this county cost tot
much to build, in fact great dea
Of money was wasted in it's construc
tion. In buying this plant an intend
Ing purchaser would offer less tina,
II the money which went into th'
plant was all well spent. This vast
OF money in construction does no
change the deprecated or replace
ment value Of this plant.
DO you consider earning power o
\ plant?"