The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1920-09-02
COUNTY VALUATIONS
SHOW BIG INCREASES
Total Jumps From Twenty to Thirty
Million; New Law Makes Raise in
All Departments

The total assessed valuation of
Whatcom County this year. 1920,
is s31,242,377. This figure includes
all property except railroads and tel
egraphs. which figures will be ready
in October. The total is s1O,437,-
ISL in excess of 1919. The figure last
year for the total assessment out
side of railroads and telegraphs was
s2O.s05,226.
This increase of over ten million
dollars is largely due to the working
of the new state law, which provides
that assessments shall be made on so
per cent of the valuation. Until now
the assessment has been on approx
imately forty per cent Of the valua-
tion. Thus the increase ordered by
law is from 40 to so per cent. or 25
per cent increase, but the actual IN
crease is more than 33 per cent.
OF the total assessment. $31.242.-
377. the sum OF $S,633.15S repre-
sents personal property. All the re-
mainder is for real estate. The per-
sonal property valuation in 1919 was
s4,733.65S.
One of the biggest increases in val
uation came from automobiles and
trucks. Last year the classification
on this point was automobiles 1884
in number with a value of $1,893,-
IS35. This year the classification was
automobiles and trucks. 1852 in
number. with valuation of s2,914,-
1856. Formerly trucks were listed
loosely with wagons and other vehi-
cles, so there is no way to show the
increase in the number of trucks and
automobiles, but there has been
considerable increase, as the license
records of the county auditor shows.
Perhaps the biggest increase in
number is in the matter of poultry.
In 1919 there were 176.111 fowls as
sessed at forty per cent of their val
ue. or $124.090. In 1920 the num-
Der jumped to 2S3,203. with a value
at fifty per cent of the valuation of
s267,471.
An increase which will interest
dairymen is in the matter of milch
cows. Last year the number was
15,050, assessed at $SS6,180. In 1920
the number was 1886. assessed at
S1.1O0,948.
Bulls kept for breeding purposes
showed an increase in number as
the result of dairymen's activities,
being in 1919, 432 assessed at $21,-
IS15, but in 1920 the number was 531
an increase of 80, assessed at $39,
373
| This year one-year-old cattle stuff
numbered 4,541; two-year-old, 81
AIS, and three-year-old, 2,103. These
are increases over last year.
Horses are on the wane. Last
year the number of stations was
five, and this year. two, valued at
$500. All the hcrses last year num-
bered 4.75S; this year, Ais, with
valuation of just short of $4,000
Mules and asses last year were 81,
this year %.
Lumber shows a big increase. In
1919 the total assessed valuation on
forty per cent basis was $359,590.
/ This year it made the huge leap of
$S63.775.
/ Last year the figure for the as
sessment of manufacturers materi-
ais and manufactured articles was
s6l3,900; this year, 11,145.562.
Diamonds, jewelry, watches, fire.
arms and so on increased from $14,-
915 worth last year to s42,517 worth
this year.
/ Pianos of the home, electric and
automatic kinds, increased from 7Ss
to 2.SS6. with valuations of $1O,99S
and s363,905.
There was on the other hand an
increase in the value OF household
furniture, including clocks, rugs,
gold and silver plate. paintings. stat
uary. engravings, etc. In 1919 the as
sessment was $1,009.130, while this
year it was s1,326,559.
i Saw logs went from $95.535 in
1919 to s167,99S this year.
Hogs in the year went from 1856
in number, assessed at $20,4l0, 10
1902 this year assessed at s2s,035.