The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1928-04-27
DOES MR.. CRARY.
WANT HIS TAXES.
Gu I $4,000?
Tract of Lend Valued at $685.
$50 in 1920 Has Already Been
Reduced to 100000 and
Owner Isn't Satisfied

The presence of Roscoe
Crary, of Chicago, in Elizabeth
City for several days during
the past week is a reminder
that Mr.. Crary was for several
years the biggest tax payer in
Pasquotank County. And
thereby hangs a tale and makes
his presence here this 'yeek a
subject Of some speculation.
Mr. Crary was for Tina lead OF
the Dare Lumber Go. of $ city
before the company mc. disaster
i'm the hands of an uI scr lpulous
pair of spectators. In closing out
his interests in the Dare Lumber
Go. Mr. Crary and associates. trad
ing as the Kent Timber Co.. retain
ed 1O,SO0 acres of timberland Ill MI.
Hermonj Township in PaSquotank
County, which he is said to have
valued at $450. 900 and for which 1t
is said he expected to find buyer
in tbe new owners of the Dare Lum-
her Co. But the new owners Of the
company fetched up in Federal
prison and ceased to be lively pros
pecrs for Mr.. Crazy. The mills OF
the Dare Lumber Co. never resumed
operations.
In 1920 the 1C.S00 acres of wood
land retained by Mr.. Crary's Kent
Timber Co.. was put On the tan
books at valuation of S33675O. or
about what property held for $450.-
600 would he expected TO he valued
on the tax books.
But Mr.. Crary lost any possible
sale of the property at $45O.O0o in
| 1920 and in 1927 he pleaded with
the tax appraisers. to reduce the
valuation of the 10.SOO acres OF
timber. They did. The properly
appparcd on the fax books at Il
valuation cf $3OO.OOO i'm 1921.
In 1922 the commissioners did
better hy Mr.. crary and reduced the
fax valuation of the property to
S2JO. 600. At that figure it remain
ed until 1926 when Mr.. Crary WAS
granted ahother cut and 10.SOO acres
of timber land that should he i'll
creasing in value annually went on
the tax books that year at S2O0.00O.
But Mr.. Crary wasn't satisfied.
He protested against the $2O0.OOo
valuation in 1927. He is protest.
ing again this year. This newspaper
has Information in fact that Mr.
Crary wants to get the valuation
reduced to 500 C20 this year. reliev-
iny his Kent Timber Go. of $2.220.0 .00
i'm taxes. based upon the tax rate OF
50 ~ i'm Mt IIermon Township.
| Mr.. Crary spent much time while
i'm the city with Martin b. Simpson
of the law firm of Aydlett & Simp
son who are known to have the con
fidencc of A. b. Walsttn. Il member
of the board of county commission
ers from Elizabeth City Township
In fact Mr.. Simpson. AIr. WalstoI
and Mr.. Crary had Il conference
while Mr.. Crary was i'm the city.
If Mr.. Crary succeeds in perslad
| ing the commissioners thru his ut
torneys and friends in this city thai
his taxes should he cut in half ant
gets his property assessed at 500.
OGO instead of $200.0J0 as at pres
emf. he will have succeeded in eigh
years in Topping nearly Il quarter
million dollars off the valuation o
$336,CG0 at which his 10.Sm acres
were assessed in 1920. And tina
will he going some.
But if the Commissioners oblig'
Mr.. Crary they are going to have
sweet time explaining their inabil
ity TO find $1,000 in the count!
treasury to meet the State Bcart
of Health plan to give Pasqontanl
County whole time medical de
partment of health.