The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-11-27
ARKANSAS into
3 BILLION CLASS
Assessors Books Show About $780,
100000 Assessed-St Farm for
Women a Reality--Cot $14,500
With Much Equipment.
~ CLIO HARPER

Little Rock, Nov. 21-- Arkansas is
three billion dollar state.
To those who have become accus-
toned to accept without analysis the
annual reports of the county assessors.
that may seem to be an extreme state
ment
But II Is statement that is subject
to verification.
The assessors books will this year
show total of about $600,000,00O
assessed.
For several years systematic ef-
fort has been made to have the assess
ments of the state reduced to a 80 per
cent basis--but ii is one Of the most
difficult reforms ever undertaken.
There are still many counties that are
considerably under that mark, and
only two that are above it--Prairie and
Poinsett
Last year the assessment was $534,-
0.000
II the assessment were increased all
over the state to fifty per cent, II
would Indicate an assessed valuation
of more than two billions.
1t is a recognized fact that under
the best possible system of assess
ment there Is at least one-third of the
property that does not get on the tax
books.
That being true, 1t follows that an
other billion must be added, which
would make three billion dollars as
the real value of the property of the
state.
The United States Census, which
is to be taken next year, should re-
feet something like this amount.
III the property of the state we're
assessed at 3 billion dollars, its actual
value, the tax rate could be divided by
ave.
The present rate in the cities is
about SO mills, or above per cent,
and in the towns II is not much less.
This does not include the heavy rates
for road districts and other improve
ments.
Yet even with this heavy rate, the
assessments are so low that the taxes
are not so heavy here as they are In
some other places. >,
The Arkansas State Farm for Wom-
en- is an accomplished fact, and is
providing means of taking care of
the criminally disposed women of the
state.
The board received from the divis-
ion of the joint fund that was raised
for the Woman's Farm and Girls
school the sum Of $4S,312.43.
The board has bought farm of 1S5
acres with broom house. The liv-
ing and dining rooms are very large,
and with hard wood floors. There are
eight bedrooms, five Of them very
large, that will accommodate from
four to five each, dormitory style
There is a very large bath room being
fitted with two showers, one tub, two
lavatories and other conveniences. A
hot air heating plant and lighting
system are being installed.
With the farm was included Ford
car in good condition, large number
OF farming implements, two dozen
hens, besides several head of hogs and
cattle, pair of mules, 80 tons of hay.
200 bushels of corn, field of turnips
and other farm material. The consid-
erotion was $4,000.
The farm is located 81 miles north
east OF Little Rock and miles from
Jacksonville, in Pulaski county. 1t is
upland and will produce three-fourths
Of bale OF cotton to the acre, besides
corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, hay
and fruit. It is proposed to have a
large acreage in truck garden II is
the purpose of the board to open the
institution at the earliest possible mo-
ment