The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-09-13
our own backyards.

From the standpoint Of agricultural
development, the tax situation is OF
prime Importance. If 1t is decided to
let reforestation ride on its momen-
tum, if the problems of mineral taxa
ton are referred to the mining inter-
ests, agricultural development is a
matter in which the entire community
is intensely interested.
How does the delinquent tax situa-
ton affect the farmer and the settler?
In Michigan and Wisconsin under
similar conditions, the state has had
to come to the relief of agricultural
settlements or see them go under.
How may Minnesota profit by their
experience? And what conditions are
alike in this state and what conditions
are different from theirs?
At present, for well known reasons,
there is not much new development
anywhere All the more reason Tor
taking such measures as will give the
best footing for what is here now.
Agriculture is depressed. All the more
reason for tightening, If it can be
done, the burdens of farming COM
munities now in being. What are the
conditions, and what are the burdens?
There is some movement now. Pros
pective buyers appear occasionally
attracted by the unrivalled opportuni-
ties for dairying. The men who are
looking for land now are not casual
settlers; they mean business. And
one of the things they ask about is
the rate of taxation. If they find the
rate formidable, they won't buy. 1t
is true that, measured in cents per
acre, taxation in the cut-over counties
is no higher than elsewhere. But il
the rate is climbing, climbing, and the
tax base is shrinking, shrinking, the
farmer who is business man is re-
PEELED.
Now is the time to get affairs in the
best possible shape for the sake OF
those who are here. And when the
tide does turn, as it will, we shall be
in the best position to get the benefit
Of changed conditions, if the farming
communities show prosperous circum-
stances, including stable tax base
and moderate rates.
On every account, we should clean
our own back yards. And the first
necessary step is to know the facts.
Under the authorization of the board
of directors of the Arrowhead associa-
ton, I have followed up in the last
year the study of tax conditions in
these counties, especially those affect
ing agricultural development.
I have made particular studies in
st. Louis county. It was the most
convenient for one thing. Certain
lines of information are more Access
sible in this county than in others.
The county is so large that the work
of county officers is specialized and
there is much detailed information
available that in smaller counties
would depend wholly on general
knowledge. Besides the inquiry dove
tails with what the Taxpayers League
is doing in its researches I wish to
acknowledge that every county officer
with whom have been in touch has
been ready to help in every proper
way.
I have plotted, on township plats,
every delinquent forty in the county.
In the majority of the towns I have
plats showing the location of every
farmhouse. The tax plats were made
from the delinquent list for 1926 pub
hshed in February 1928, at which time
not only the current delinquencies but
the forfeited list was published. That
list showed in excess of 100000 acres
delinquent; since then there has been
settlement on about 100000 acres on
which the tax was at that time being
contested in the courts. The net de-
linquency is therefore 605,000 acres, as
of January 1928, but that does not
include acreage on lots in city and