Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-01

work has been carried on satistac-
torily. Sixteen full townships of wild
land. containing 376,310 acres, and ap-
proXimately 10000 acres in organized
towns and plantations, making a total
Of 416,310 acres, have been explored
during 1917.
In connection with our work in
collecting information and date rela-
tive to all kinds of property in the
State. this board expects to make a
special study of our water powers,
storage basins and forest areas.
THE water powers of Maine are q
great heritage. They have made and
to greater degree in the future than
in the past will make Maine great
industrial center. Conservative men,
in advertising the resources and at
fractions of Maine, place the forest
area at 100000 acres and the value
of the water powers at Sl50.000,O00.
There is no question in which We
are all more vitality interested than in
the conservation and further develop
ment of our water powers. No unjust
burden should be laid upon any in
dividual or corporation and neither
should we be unduly influenced by the
argument that certain industries and
Developments are entitled to special
consideration from the fact that they
are developing the State and giving
employment to large numbers Of peo-
pie, We take it Tor granted that
money so invested is invested with the
hope and reasonably clear assurance
of an adequate return. We have al
ready devoted as much time as posi-
BILE in examination of and gathering
data relating to the above kind of
property.
In every county in the State there
is under-valued property or property
that is entirely escaping the assessor.
and the problem confronting the as
SCISSORS, both local and State, is to find
it and to so equalize values that all
property not exempt by statute shall
bear the just share of the public bur
den. We have felt that one prelimi-
nary step towards this end is for the
board of State assessors and local as
SCISSORS to come into closer touch with
each other. for the purpose of consid-
ering conditions which obtain in differ
cnt localities and a discussion of the
problems confronting both
The State assessors approach their
part of the work fully realizing the
magnitude of the task confronting
them. They frankly ask for informa-
ton and help. Their time is to be de-
voted to this work and, aided by such
abiilty and Judgment as they possess
and such information as they can
gather. their purpose is, so far as i'm
their power, to see that the provision
OF the constitution relative to taxation
is complied with.
SO far as possible we have made a
personal canvass OF cities and towns
Tor the purpose of getting close per-
sonal knowledge of property conditions
and values. We have found property
owners and managers almost uni
versally willing to show us property
and to give MS all the information we
have called for. We have explained TO
them as we'll as to assessors the ne
cessity for cooperate endeavor all
along the line for an equalization of
property values. empha sizing and try
ing TO make ii plain that usually we
get more from money paid into the
state than from the same amount or
money paid out for any other purpose.
That the money necessary 70 keen
| State. county and municipal machfn-
cry moving must come from the people
/ owning property in the State. county
and town. and instead of trying to
shift the public burden upon the other
! fellow, every property owner should
willingly contribute his share in pro
portion to the amount of property he
mas and assessed at a just and fair
| valuation.
| we have tried 10 make it ver,
clear and plain that il is the duty. of
all property owners, as we'll as asses
sors. to see that all property Is re-
corded for purposes of taxation and we
nave tried to make it jus, as clear
that where any town tries to dodge the
issue by er-valuing property or h,
having it escape the assessots entire
! ~. the board of State assessors vii,
add to the valuation OF thaA town for
ip4rResss Of State ta4atlon1 Esm