Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-26

board Of assessors is $500, ,043,
representing an increase OF $31.052.-
o5i over last year. according to the
annual report Of the members Of the
Board of State Assessors, Clement 5.
Stetson of Greene, John J. Dearborn
OF Newburg and Wilbur F. Dresser
Of South Portland, which was filed
with the Governor and Council Tues
day. Penobscot county shows the
largest and Hancock county the
smallest increase in valuation. The
increase in the valuation Of the cities
represents approximately SO per cent.
OF the total gain in the valuation OF
the state.
The report shows the value of live
stock TO be $22930.7O against $ls, I66.9ss
for the previous year. an increase OF w.
i7i12,; number of cows, 1926 against
i'll, 1856 for the preceding year. an In
crease OF $40; number of oxen, 735l
against $500 for the preceding year. an
increase Of 1872. total number of cattle
Of all kinds. 2S35s: against 262.413 for the
preceding year, an increase OF I,lN;
number Of horses, 1lo,A7 against Ll,sb
for the preceding year. decrease OF 1863;
number Of colts. 96sS against 1910 for
the preceding year. decrease OF 49,
value OF automobiles. SIC, $50 against
81 7A.e5s for the preceding year. an in
treasc OF 50. OS2o22 value of real estate.
$3.50. 1o4, t6: against 1867 81 ,33 for the
preceding year. an increase Of &15.193.l36;
value OF personal estate. $l2o. 3326sl
agains. sIoi .os3 for the preceding
year an increase OF sl5.sss.5ls. value of
buildings. sos $3.50 against s219, 1904, o4s.
an increase of 1851. 100; number Of polls
taxed 2o3.ss against 2)S.955. decrease
or 5c53
The amount of taxes assessed on polls
FOR the past year was So53005, the aver
age amount assessed on each poll was
s. -. the amount OF taxes assessed on
property III the different cities, towns
and plantations for state. county and
municipal purposes was sl3.i5.l&: and
the average rate of taxation of each
81 ~ Of valuation was 1855.
Corporation Taxes.
tons the pas; wear as follows: lsail-
roads. sl,:i2.s &C. -: street railroads. EI-
- 10. telephone compares. sl37. 4i2.,"
telegraph companies, sli,t4&: express
companies. SSj.S3.sl palace car COM
ranlcs set1305; general franchise
taxes. SCI .635.tl savings banks. $685.
3GG06. trust and banking companies.
$751; 1871: insurance companies, s"o2,-
- 81: loan and building associations.
si.lsS5l
As a board Of equalization. the as
SCISSORS report the 18th biennial Valua-
ton OF the state ~ follows:
Real estate Of cities. towns and plan
taiions s3s9. 9s7 80. personal estate of
cities. towns and plantations. l25.53l IL:
| real estate in unorCaniz"d townships.
So. 9a3.5i9: growth on pubi: lots. 81 $685.
NiS Tlis represents an Increase above
The state valuation Of 1916 amounting
~ $50 90 SO. as follows: Real estate OF
cites. towns and plantations. s.. l93, "';
personal estate 81 cities, towns and
plantations. s222.5J1l .59i real estate III un-
organized townships. ssN2ii@: growth
ur public lots. 81, otsj.
Tho report Of the assessors says:
~ lluatinn Of water powers, electrical
deyelopments and wild lands arc the
most pcrpleXlng valuation problems
that assessors have to solve. Only an
expert can arrive at an actual value OF
these properties, and it is difficult to
get reliable Information relative to the
same from interested parties. 1t Is
therefore necessary to proceed care
FUZZY and conservatively. but We feel
that We can defend our position when
We insist that water power company,
representing an outlay Of nearly N.WN.-
40 and having an annual income OF
more than s301."C shall be assessed
upon A valuation more than the income
amounts to. Our water lowers are
great heritage and are 20 he potent
factor in the future development OF the
State. but we can see no sense or logic
in the argument that, because they are
an asset to and bring business into the
state and assist in its development,
they should be practically exempt from
taxation.
One hundred and seventy-tive million
dollars is Il conservative estimate of the
amount of Intangible property in Maine.
In 1916. only about $l5ooo.000 of this
property vas found by local assessors.
II Is claimed, and 10 doubt truthfully
claimed that property owners will re
sort TO almost any means to get rid OF
paving taxes on property. the income
from which is barely sufficient to pay
the tax. II intangible property is pay
ing too much, and il under our present
law u cannot he found. then some
cd that will find it, To leave the pres
ent system as it is defeats us in our
efforts to find and assess all property.
Something should be done. 1nacuon
will not do. II action is to come. the
question is what ways are open: We
Either we must have a low nat rate on
intangibles. or enact an income tax
law. Either of these methods would be
acceptable to majority Of our people
when properly understood. They GER
tainly accord with the past contention
OF the Tangible property owner.
About one-half of our territory lies
in unorganzed townships and pays only
State and county taxes, averaging
through series of years perhaps five
mills on the dollar. while the rate in
Incorporated places will, average more
than 20 mills on the dollar. This Of
course causes more or less discomfort
Property owners in incorporated towns
now feel that the owners of wild land