Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-10-26
The New Assessment.
What Others Have To Say
About 1t.

| ADOuJ IL.
The Hancock "Star" has this to say
of the new assessment now being made:
"The new assessment of property on
the unit basis is wonderful exhibition
of brain storm. Buildings are assessed
by the square foot and lots in the same
way. For instance, the new Masonic
building is to be used for offices with a
flat over them. It's two-story brick
with slate roof and measures 26x60 feet,
or covering 1860 square feet of space
with modern improvements. Turning to
page 10 of the Wonderful Guide to As
SCISSORS, we find this office building two
story brick with cellar, must be figured
at SIS. 10 per square foot or $7,956. 90 and
the land on which it stands at ST, 10000,
making a total value of SO, 1850 or
about SIS, 600 90 more than the actual cost
of the building and land on which it
stands.
"This is fair example of this pernici-
Gus taxing system or plan.
lone good thing about the beautiful
efficiency plan is the fact that the inter-
ior finish of buildings does not count at
all. A cheap pine finish is taxed just as
high as mahogany trim, and two
story cow barn brick is taxed at So. 90 a
square foot, whereas a two story brick
dwelling is taxed $500 per square foot.
No difference between COW home, and
the homes of our wives and children. If
the cow shed has modern improvements
"a bath, toilet and furnace, for use of
the COW of course, these things cost so
cents per foot extra, and if our homes
have the same improvements, they cost
35 cents extra per foot, possibly rebuke
for providing a cow shed with bath and
other modern improvements. The Won
der Book for Assessors also provides a
way to figure horse stable values with
and without bath, toilet, furnace and
lights. The assessors will have to carry
a tape measure and extension ladder and
measure all buildings and all lots of land,
make an exterior survey of all buildings,
providing the dogs are chained up, note
whether frame or brick, and then set up
their extension ladders and note the kind
of roof, whether single, tin, tile or
slate All this noted he takes this Ready
Reckoner on values and figures his neigh
bors out of house and home. If we can
manage for 40 years to pay our taxes,
we get depreciation of so per cent off.
| will be So years old then and will not
care for the rebate"
The Hagerstown "Globe" has the fol-
lowing to say about the reassessment
now on:
1.-THE assessment of real property in
this county this time must be done by
rule, according to the present plans OF
the State Tax Commission. The COM
mission has prepared and printed book
let which is placed in the hands of assess
ors throughout the State, and this book
sets the prices at which property must
be assessed, and comparatively little or
no discretion is left to the assessor.
''The prices at which the booklet speci
fies certain property must be assessed
are entirely too high for this section and
in many cases, new house can be built
complete for much less than it would
have to be assessed at were the valua-
tons per square foot, set forth in the
book, maintained.
Zone county assessor was heard to say
that rather than follow the valuations
that he would resign, and several Others
nearby expressed like sentiment. This
man stated that he had lived in this
county the greater portion of his life,
had made his friendships here, and that
here he expected his favors for the re-
mainder of his life. Il don't intend to
have those people turn on me now, in
my old days, and rather than run that
risk will resign, he said.
'In the assessment of houses the State
Tax Commission has set forth certain
rules to be followed.
Inc average Two anu ohe-hall-story
dwelling house, of this section, If built
of frame, is to be assessed from So to 50
per square foot, while one of brick will
run from 81 to $5.75. If house has a
slate roof, five cents per square foot ex-
ira is to be added, or 10 cents for a tile
roof For cellars under frame buildings
40 cents per square foot is to be added,
and if cemented, so cents. Cellars under
brick buildings will cost Is cents per
sqaare foot, and if cemented, rs cents.
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