The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-08-14
CLAIMS TAX BURDEN
HAND|CAPS FARMERS
Acker Tells Auditors Surplus
. Grain Is Being Raised on
Marginal Lands

ktOlld, N. H., Aug. 14.-NC-An ap.
preciable part of the surplus grain
Cutting the market has been raised
on poor and untillable land as a re-
suit of efforts of farmers to produce
cash crops that would bring a return
equivalent to the high taxes levied
on such land, liver Acker, state tax
commissioner. told the annual state
convention of County Auditors here
Friday.
Martin S. Hagen, manager of the
State Hail Insurance department,
Auditors j. A. Gray of Ransom coun-
ty. G. F. Colcord of Renville and Ford
Doherty of Cass were others on the
days speaking program.
Farm lands during the last 10 years,
Acker said, carried more than their
fair share Of the tax burden. Be-
cause poor tillable land and untillable
land have been assessed too high, he
added, many counties now find them
selves the owners of much of such
land.
1T has been removed from the tax
lists" he continued and the. tax bur-
den formerly borne by such marginal
land has, on account Of its present
exemption from taxation, been added
to the tax burden of more productive
lands.
1T would have been better if these
lands had remained in private hands.
even though assessed at greatly less
than they were. AS a result of the
high taxes on much Of our so-called
marginal land, desperate efforts have
been made to raise wheat and other
crops on land which God and nature
long since decreed would be best suit
ed for the requirements of mankind
if left in their original pastoral con-
dition.
Farm Barren Hills
I'm the efforts of farmers to pro-
duce cash crops that would bring a
return at least equivalent to the taxes
levied against this class of land, bar
rem hills and bad lands have been
furrowed by the pillow.
This situation exists not only In
North Dakota but in every state in
the union. The result has been that a
very appreciable part of the surplus
grain that is Cutting the market was
raised at a loss on land which should
not have been titled. High taxes have
contributed to cause this condition.
I'm order to secure equitable assess
ments Of farm loans it is necessary to
appraise such lands according to a
more scientific system of valuation
than the so-called method of methods
now used by assessors. There Is need
of greater cooperation between the
assessor and the local board Of re-
view.
Township supervisors should fire.
quently meet with the assessor during
the assessment period. They should go
over his assessments with him and
suggest changes and improvements.
Tax maps should be prepared and
whenever possible a value should be
placed on each 40-acre tract. BY US
ing tax maps 1t is opssible at a glance
to compare farm land assessments.
Such maps should be prepared by the
assessor with the aid and assistance Of
the township board, including the
township clerk.
Citizens Should Help
I'm unorganized townships commit
tees Of representative citizens should
be formed to cooperate with the as
SCISSOR. In this way assessment and
equalization would go hand in hand
Our present method Of local equaliza-
ton is often farcical.
When I have advocated this meth
ed at assessors meetings, I have In.
variably met with the objection thai
the township supervisors woult
charge q per diem and mileage FOL
their services II they can legally DE-
80. and II no compensation Is allowed
they would refuse to work with thu
assessor. I cannot conceive Of
finer public service than this. w
hear . great deal about cooperation
A little cooperation along the lin,
that I have suggested would probabl,
be Of a. much service to the farmer
as any cooperative endeavor In tn
marketing Of his products"
when the next assessment periol
comes each assessor should receive T,
map showing valuations as final,
equaused by the state board Of equal
ization. Changes and Improvement Il
assessments would naturally be- mad
but in the course Of time a fair degre
o. uniformity would b obtainsd IN
AWNf So $50 ~SNH fHWrNwtN4tN HE AVAIL E