The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-21
MIR. STEPHENS GOES
FURTHER INTO DETAIL

Lakeland, Fla, June 81, 1915.
Editor of the Evening Telegram:
In the Telegram of the 10th inst, |
note article from Mr.. J. c. Swindel,
our county commissioner. The ar
ticle was headed, Il think this looks
good to the taxpayers of Polk Co."
He went on to state that he paid the
railroad $1,000 to haul rock from
Barlow, to rock one mile of road. l
Judge that was too high for Mr..
Swindel, so he bought three acres of
rock from us for S600. He got more
than enough rock to rock 20 miles
of road, cost abut $50 mile for raw
material. He bought the rock pit,
made the road, then comes out and
says that we held him up Called i
it a "holdup' and that he proposes |
to recover a part, at least, of the |
5000" Why did he not tax the rail-
road enough extra to force them to
return the $1,000. He threw bou-
quet to Mr.. John Keen and calls
him public spirited citizen" be
cause he offered to give the county a
rock quarry, but as long as Mr.. Keen
had sold the quarry to us he could
not deliver the goods. | don't sup
pose it dawned on our county com
missioner to suggest to Mr.. Keen to
buy back the rock quarry and then
be in a position to carry out his gen
erous offer. Mr.. Swindel then tossed
his article of the 18th. 81 am by the
terms of my oath of Office, working
for the best interests of my consti-
tuents." While we are on the subject
of taxes let us make a few compari-
sons and see who are his constitu
ents. Mr.. Swindel has II acres of
, land that is in the town limits; is
acres of the land has bearing
grove on it. He also has celery,
truck and general farm land. Has
lake front and pubic road front.
|
Mr.. Swindel also has 80 acres of
land that he is interested in on Ba-
mana lake. This property has 30
> acres of bearing orange trees on it.
He bought the property several years
ago from Mr.. Bewire at $4,000.
At least that was the price told at
the time of the purchase. This prop
erty is assessed at $1,000. Mr.. G.
IL. Palmer and myself have Ia IL
acres of orange trees on Lake Huns
J ter inside of town limits. Last sea-
III ment. 1t has been raised 60 per
III cent UP to $4,000. Mr.. Swindel as
IL sessed his properties of three times
III more groves and times more land
III at $500 less than the IA l-2 acres
Il were assessed at. i have 30 acres OF
IL bearing grove and acres set out in
III orange trees one year ago, and
III acres of pasture land. Last year
paid taxes on $1,000 assessment
III this year $4,000. Been raised 6t
III per cent. He assessed both of hi
groves of IS and 30 acres of bearint
III trees, including 157 acres of land
III 77 inside of city limits, for $4,000
II MY As acres assessed at $4,000
Hi just double him.
Let us make another comparison
HI His 30 acres of bearing grove and 81
Hi acres of wild land on Banana lax
lin that cost 5000. is assessed at 81,
iii 600. His taxes on the 900 plac
IIIi is $3.50. The property we bough
I'LL from Mr.. Keen cost $4,000. Nj
iii Swindel assAled 1t at $4,000
Hill Taxes over $500. If our count
Hill! commissioner had assessed his ow
Hill property that cost him $4,000, i
Hill the same proportion that he assesse
Hill the Keen land, his assessment woul
Hill have been over $4,000 instead c
Hill $1,000. The taxes that he is pa!
Hill ing is only $31 so; would have bee
|l|| over $3.50. The county has lost owe
Hill $500, provided he had assessed hin
Hill self as he assessed us. Mr.. Swind'
Hill heads his articles of the 18th.
I'LL think this will look good to the tai
Hill payers of Polk county.
lllI / don't believe it will look good
It'll the taxnayers VIXEN they find OIL
Hill that their commissioner is payin
ll|ll s31. so taxes on property that co
ll|l him SIS, 900 and the attempt to co
llIIl lect over s400 from his friends an
|Ol neighbors on property that on
|II cost $4,000.
|llll Yours truly,