The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-10-09
ORANGE GROVE OWNERS
WILL PAY MORE TAXES
In Putnam County This Year
Half Value Basis the
Cause.

| ~ 10 Always interesting TO l00l
at the completed new books of Ia,
Assessor Billiard. When these ney
books are turned over to the Ia,
Collector on the first of October
each year, they are marvels of neat
ness-not a blot nor blemish of an,
kind being on or in them. That wa,
the case before the days of the type
writer and when Mr.. Bullard wrote
his books in long hand, it is ever
more so now that they are writer
on special made typewriter. These
Immediately neat books for the pres,
ent fiscal year were turned over by
Mr.. Billiard this week, and while they
are all that could be wished from an
artistic standpoint, they contain some
new values calculated to make some
tax payers vince. Speaking of the
new valuations Mr.. Bullard went in.
to the matter with The News quite
fully, He said:
"Under the new order, or under
instructions of the State Tax Com
missioners, this work has been much
more difficult than ever before. In
trying to carry out the instructions
Of the commissioning assess at one
half of full value, had to incease
values on all kinds of property. How
ever, as the millage was not reduced
proportionately, as everyone was as
sured it would be, every one will pay
increased taxes. More especially
will this be the case in the orange
growing districts of the county.
Values on orange grove property had
not been increased since the freeze
of 1895, and with the maturity Of
the groves, giving to them a great
ly increased value, the changed vail
ues will be most noticed Grove
owners, however, will not be quick tt
censure. In assessing this property
| had the hel lp of conscientious To-
cal help in fixing values and in the
work of equalization, most of them
being themselves orange growers,
and they fixed the values by which
we worked.
"In the short time we had to DO
this work, | think it was well done,
and in getting at basis for values
the local men agreed on $4OO per
acre for first-class groves, $500 for
second-class and 5000 for third-class,
then assessing for one-half Of these
"Potato lands and all other lands
were changed as well, but always
with the view not to go over the
fifty per cent, or one-half real value.
GAS before stated we had but
short time in which to do this work,
and it has required much hard study,
and should there be one who thinks
an injustice has been done him,
then trust he will kindly consider
and ask himself this question: Has
he valued it for more than one
half of what | honestly think it worth
and would takefor it?'
"The legislature created the tax
commission, and l, as a petty Off
,er was legally bound to follow my
Instructions"
1t may be added by The News that
Mr.. Bullard is very sensitive OIL |
,ial: that he wants to do his work |
honestly there can be no doubt; but
!e is always afraid that he will hurt
;ome one in the fulfllment of his
lutv. and he don't like to hurt. The
.hances are that if he has erred at
II, the error has been made on the
ide Of the people who pay the bills.
There are not many high-grade or
.nre sections that would sell for
400 an acre.