Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-01-01

taxes nave been assessed in 1915. and
Will be again in 1916. was s49S. .4S7. $40.
Whlle the valuation of the cities. towns
ana Incorporated plantations, as made
ny local boards on April first. 1919
plus the valuation of wild lands and
tlmper and grass on public lots.
amounts to s496.51992O. being only 81.
'929 less than the total State val
uatlon, hence it is very evident the
valuation of 1916. will be in excess of
the State valuation to the extent of
several millions of dollars.
This shows conclusiyolv ,hat tho
state valuation being made for a two
year period. would all the time be
many millions below the local valua
ton. unless reasonable additions were
made. as provided by statute by the
Board of State Assessors, in anticipa-
ton of growth through new propertv
ana local adjustment it being nee.
essary to make the State valuation
late in the year next preceding each
legislative session, while local boards
make two valuations after that, and
during the same period to which the
State valuation applies
Wild Lands. =
in the annual report of the Board
or State Assessors for 1914, a recon-
inehdatlon was made for an appropria-
tlon or $4,000 yearly for continuing
the work of surveying and estima ting
tlmberlands. this being double the
amount of any former appropriation.
The Legislature of 1915 granted 500
900 for this purpose, to be exnended
during 1915 and 1916, and early in
April or TINS year, preparation was
commenced in order to do this work in
uniform and practical manner. dis
tributing it in different sections of the
state. also among many different own
ers OF tlmberlands. avoiding when pos
slble, the cruising by one explorer. of
more than one or two towns owned bv
the same party.
Mr.. K. f. Mullaney Of Bangor, who
has done both office and woods work
since the first appropriation was made
tor this purpose in 1905, commenced
on plan and map work at the office
IN Augusta on April 13. Believing a
greater effort should be made for q
careful and systematic exploration. Mr..
SuD0TVlS-
ion OF the different parties, who for
the most part began actual work in
the woods about June first, and from
that time until early in October his
time was used in visiting the different
sections where explorers had been To-
Gated, observing methods in use, and
pointing out means to better conditions
when possible to do so,
The strip method" has been the
one principally in use for the estima-
ton of timber. and in addition cruisers
have been instructed to report on
each town such conditions as topog-
raphy as affecting logging operations
and drivability of streams. improve
ments such as hotels, farms, ETC., area.
lines and corners, soil conditions and
character of growth, burnt and waste
lands. cuttings showing age and con-
dltion, also whether cut for saw logs,
pulp. or both. and stumpage values If
definitely known.
We feel the result has justified the
methods adopted. and our constant ef-
fort in this matter has been to secure
the greatest amount of substantial in.
formation. consistent with a reasonable
amount of money expended. :.
We are satisfied the men EMPLOYED
have worked faithfully to carry out our
wishes, and the result Of their efforts.
in the shape of reports showing esti-
mates of timber. general conditions
found, also maps made, will be gladly
shown to timberland owners, or other
interested parties.
We have examined 43 towns during
1915, having approximately $4,000
acres. making in round numbers $780,
300 acres explored since this work was
first undertaken in 1905. The towns
cruised were in Aroostook, Franklin,
and Somerset counties,
Expenditures Of the Board.
Summarized expenditures of the Board
of State Assessors for the year 1915, un-
der resolve, chapter 331, Acts and Re
solves of 1915, appropriating money for
the purpose Of obtaining information in
regard to wild lands for the purposes: of
taxation. ..---. -c--.
for 1915 S1O,eO0e0
Paid B. F. Beal, time and
cash paid in explor-
ing wild lands and =