The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-07-14
THE TAX BOOKS PICTURE

The numerical picture OF Ashe county, as
shown by the current property tax valuation
records recently complied by the tax super
visor, does not present a gratifying economic
outlook neither does it reflect accurate summary
of the county's wealth.
These two conflicting and somewhat para
doxical observations, however, are not due to the
failure of Mr. H. H. Burgess and his list takers
in doing of their duties but rather are result of
too much deflation in property valuation when
the last assessment was made and to our lack
of modern and progressive farm practices and
also our lack of manufacturing enterprises
which usually take the form of corporations and
are prolific producers of wealth.
A few years ago the total property valuation
in the county for taxable purposes was around
$12,000,0O0.O0, compared with only around
$3,5O00O0.00 for the ensuing fiscal year.
Undoubtedly twelve million was too high, but
we are equally convinced that the present va
luation is much too low. The deflation was eff
fected during the heart of the depression and
was like swing from one extreme to the other.
We still have the same number of acres of
land, although they may be little less fertile,
almost as many heads of cattle and livestock,
in lumber and no increase in manufacturing.
Figures on our total income from farm products,
cattle, livestock lumber, manufacturing and so
on are not available at this time, but it is safe
to estimate that there is a decrease from the
pre-depression level All of this decrease, though
will not amount to $8,5O0,000.00.
On the tax books we have 271 1865 acres of
land listed at valuation of ST 1908, 901.0O, or an
average value of only 1888 per acre. We do not
profess to know lot about the value of real
estate and farm property, but it is obvious that
this figure is much too low. During recent
years much land has been sold for as high as
$250OO per acre, and there probably is not a
single farm in the county that could be bought
even for an average of $40 per acre.
If our land is not producing the return that
it should, the major reason is because of lack
of soil conservation and unprogressive farm
practices This again emphasizes the need for
agriculture departments, in our high schools.
Another feature shown by the valution tabu-
lation is that the State of North Carolina is 60
ing to profit more than the county by the new
intangible personal property tax law. This
year the county lost nearly a half million dol
lars of net solvent credits and will not get half
of the tax collected by the state.
Another most significant feature to be OBJ
served is that there must be created inside of
the countys boundaries new enterprises for the
creation of more jobs and wealth. We need a
large cannery, hosiery mill, furniture factories
that will give us direct market for our own
farm products, provide employment and ele-
vate the countys per capita income.
Getting ready to entertain high percentage
of the great throng Of tourists who will pass
through our county when the Parkway is COM
pleted is another thing of vital Importance that
we should do On Negro mountain there should
be erected large resort, hotel, adequate to ac-
commodate large number who could easily be
induced to vacation in Ashe county