The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-01-29
S0MERS UNIT SYSTEM
OF LAND VALUATION
Has Numbers Of Intelligent
Adherents IA Palatka-
Definition.

Last week The News called atten-
tion to the efforts Of Mr.. William
Young, an actuary of the Manufac-
turers' Appraisal Company, to induce
the city council of Palatka to contract
to pay his company $1,000 for an
equalization of tax values in this city
according to the Somers scientific
system.
There had been considerable talk
on the streets concerning the posi-
bility of the council entering into such
contract, and there was general
disapproval. 1t is fact, however,
that those who were speaking against
the proposed contract were not well
posted as to what it was proposed to
accomplish. There is little under
standing of it even now. 1t is a
Science" and The Palatka News is
not in the habit of acquiring a sci
ence in so short a time. 1t has only
glimmering of light as to what is
proposed. All The News knows is
that such a contract would Lot meet
public approval, not, at least, until
the public had been enabled to Gin
wardly digest" the science.
The company furnishes the follow
| ing definition of its science:
"The Somers Unit System of Real
ty Valuation is founded upon the
law of constant effect of depth on the
value of city sites, u and
consists of the mathematical formu-
lac and mechanical devices for using
that law so that real and relative val
ues of actual sites may be ascer-
tained."
That ought to be easy, but it isn't,
and won't be made easy to the aver
age mind without volume or two of
elucidation, which we have neither
the time to give to it, nor the space.
Several members of the council, how
ever, have given time to the Study of
the subject. They are intelligent
men and honest. They are honestly
trying to serve you. The News is
not one that would belittle these men.
1t acknowledges that when its last
weeks story was written it knew lit
tie about the system, and that it has
not added much to its sum of knowl-
edge since. 1t simply knows that
the law does not contemplate that the
council of this city should place the
task of equalization on any outsider,
be he individual or corporation, and
that to pay out the sum of $2,500 of
the peoples moneys without the peo-
ple's consent would raise "stink."
These are times when the people want
to know the reason why, when money
is spent. The News has no special
criticism of the Somers System, ex-
cept that it objects to the use of the
word Scientific" If it was called
Scientific" system of extracting
money from municipal corporations
under pretext of giving value receiv-
ed, we could make no objection.
President Yelverton of the council
is one of the men who has given in
telligent study to the system. Mr..
Yelverton is one of the most patriot
ic of Palatka's aldermen. He real
ICES that something must be done in
the way of eqIalizing taxes, and his
study of this system was with the
view of finding such Gystem. He
has made dilligent enquiry. along with
Aid. Merriam, and they find that in
cities where the system has been tried
it has proven satisfactory to the Of
fcials.
Mr.. Yelverton has sent The News
some literature, and Mr.. Young, the
actuary, has brought US some. In
note to The News Mr.. Yelverton
says:
81 believe that under a uniform
system of valuations, whereby every
property would bear its proper rela-
tion one TO another, that the railroads
of this city would pay for this service
in two years, and further that the ac-
tual amount of money paid by taxpay-
ers would be reduced for half of them
and raised for few" Mr.. Yelver-
ton thinks that the story in The News
of last week was of the character to
mislead readers. 1t was not intended
to mislead, but as it did not contain
an INTELLIGENT statement of the propo-
sition in hand. it would naturally have
that effect. The News does not pur-
nose to mislead in any matter of pub
lie investigation.