The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-03-24
ANOTHER CHAPTER
ON ASSESSED VALUES
Where the County Court Might Raise
Revenue to Remedy Conditions
Pointed Out by Grand Jury

The Grand Jury at the close Of the
February term of our Circuit Court
turned in a report to that tribunal
which was somewhat startling. 1t
was published and naturally created
comment, lifting of the eyebrows in
wonder that such things can be. 1t
mentioned sanitary conditions at the
County Jail that ought to be remedied
without question; suggested needed
improvements at the County Infirm-
ary that brook no delay, and pointed
out in no uncertain way the made
quacy of the Court House to meet
the requirements of our rich and rap
idly growing county.
These are all matters that deserve
prompt attention and remedying, and
if remedied in the proper way, which
is always the most economical,
they would cost some thousands of
dollars. Our County Court has not
shown itself niggardly when it comes
to necessary and legitimate improve
ments, but like the Israelites in Egypt,
they cant make brick without straw.
We are satisfied the money to do this
work is not in the county revenue
fund, so how would the Court go
about accomplishing it? Exceed the
revenue?
What question to ask in rich,
populous county like st, Francois, that
ought to have more revenue and would
have more if certain rich corporation
holdings were assessed at the same
ratio as that of private individuals.
If this were done, the tax rate for
county revenue could even be lowered
and then give the county an abund-
ance of revenue and to spare for such
conditions as the Grand Jury report
so graphically, describes. Why has
this not been done? Why has il not
been done long ago? Everybody who
is not interested in these corporations
financially or by ties of salaried pref
erment, recognize the justice of exact
ing the same ratio of taxation from
them that is exacted Of other taxpay-
ers.
At the risk of again offending the
rich and all but arrogant lead COM
panies of this county we are going to
repeat some facts. The st. Joseph Lead
Company has land holdings in this
county, the actual value Of which its
official statement to it's stockholders
places at $6,732, ,542.16, and its equip
ment or Improvements on these lands
it places at $4,000, ,509.33, total ac-
tual value of $10,807 ,051.49. OF this its
official figures claim that $1,723,371.-
"a is at Herculaneum, in Jefferson
county. That leaves $9,083, ,679.65 in
st. Francois county. Now the as
sessed valuation of these lands anG
equipments is only $1,452,830, or in
rough figures about 20 per cent Of
their value-the value placed upor
the lands and equipment alone by
the company's own auditors-while
you, Mr.. Farmer, are assessed al
about 40 per cent, just twice as much
on your lands and houses. There is
no guess work about these figures
and valuation-they are the company's
own. Do you think you ought to pay
twice as much tax in proportion tc
your wealth as this company does?
The st. Joseph Lead Company by
sworn statement fixes the value Of its
property at Herculaneum at $1,723,-
371.S4. On this it paid last year on.
ly $149 in State taxes, which indicates
that it was assessed on its property
in jefferson county about $4,000, OF
less than Z per cent of its actual val
ue. In st. Louis they claim to be pay
ing taxes on an assessment of about
90 per cent. No wonder the taxpay.
ers of that city are complaining about
paying a disproportionate share Of
State taxes. If this st. Joseph LeaC