Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-08-10
ASSESSMENTS INCREASED.


Substantial increases in the valua-
tion of real estate and the property
of public utilities, together with a
decline in the amount of PERSONAL
property, arc noted in figures obtained
Yesterday from F. L. Watson, assessor
for Jefferson county. The total valua-
ton OF real estate for taxation for the
current year amounts to Sli,S6S, ,2SS.
as compared with SS,9l4,47S for las.
year. Taxable personal property,
however, declined from S6,2S6. .76O last
year to S5,299, Gel for this year. The
Board Of Public Works has raised the
assessment Of public utilities from S4.-
4O4, 1877, the 1921 figure, to S5076,-
| 772.
The county court this week has been
wrestling with the problem of fixing
the levy for county and road district
purposes, but had not finished their
work yesterday afternoon. While
there is no exact information as TO the
possible rate which will be applied,
II is probable that the levy will be
lower than IL was last year, owing to
the large increases in the valuation OF
property.
The increase in the valuation OF
real estate, which amounts 10 approx
imately twenty-five per cent, Is gem
eral throughout the county, the figures
having been raised in each district and
corporation The assessment Of real
estate in Shepherdstown district was
Sl,452,OoS last year. This year il is
Sl,SoS,0S0 Personal property assess
ment declined in Shepherdstown dis
trict from S665,5l5 last year to $685.
esS for 1921. In Shepherdstown cor
poration the valuation of the real es-
tate was raised over 100000, or from
S365, 300 to S446,S7O.
lhe decline in the valuation OF per
sonal property amounts to about one
million dollars Various causes are
given for this remarkable change
Inc fact that so many persons have
invested their money in non-taxable
securities is given as one reason WHY
the decline was so sharp In addition
TO this, 100000 worth of stock of
the United States Leather Company
has been removed from the COUNTY
1t Is said that the present method Of
taNing personal property or securi-
ties, at the same rate that covers real
estate, makes it necessary for the in
Vestor to place his money in non-tax-
able securities or sacrifice a large mart
G. the income therefrom s tn Sc
clr;iies are taxed at tne;r iuiI yalu.
alton at the present high rate
The Jefferson County Board of
Equalization and Review, compos ed
of w. F. Alexander, of Charles Town.
G.. N. Whiting, of Shepheristown, and
william T. Elliot, from near Leetown,
have gone over the figures compiled
by Assessor Watson, AMI the result
Of their deliberation was slightly
higher assessment than that turned in
by Mr.. Watson. The assessors .g-
ures for real estate in the county stood
at Sll ,43l ,66S; the board raised this
amount to that quoted above, Sill
SOS, 3S3 Personal property turned in
by the assessor at S5,l97, ,240 was
boosted to S5,299,621.
AS regards the assessment OF pub
lie utilities in the county, it is seen
that the increase in the valuation
amounts roughly to twelve per cent
tically all Of the corporations being
returned for higher valuations. The
largest taxpayer in this class is the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, runninr'
east and west through the county
The valuation OF the property Of the
B. & o. is this year placed at 81 ,977.-
500, compared with valuation Of
81 ,S46,5l3 last year, or an increase
of about seven per cent. The as
sessment Of the Northern Virginia
Power Company was jumped consider
ably, from SS00,00O to S1,OOO,OOO,
while the Potomac Light and Power
Company was handed one of the larg,
est increases given to the larger COM
panies, when their property was in
creased for purposes Of taxation from
S5OO0OO TO SS00,O00.
Following is the assessed valuation
of real estate and personal property
for Jefferson county, by districts and
municipalities:
REAL ESTATE.
District.
Charles Town.. -. =. S2,O39,557
kabletown.. .. .... 2,OSS. 1868
Middleway. E. ... E. 1,718,503
| Shephcrdstown. :. .. 1905, ,O3O
/ Harpcr's Ferry. ..... :. 1.19S9Os
| Municipalities.
Charles Town. 3. .... 1,5n,s4s
Ransom. E. =. .... 366,215
HaFpef's Ferry. E. .. 276, ,385
Shepherdstown.. =. .... 446,S7O
Bolivar. go. .... 1l6,705
/ Total, 1922, .... 80. S11,565, ,.383
] O ne n