The Daily Ardmoreite

STATE EQUALIZATION BOARD HANDS COUNTY SOLAR PLEXUS BLOW

The state equalization board in session at Oklahoma City handed the taxpayers of Carter county an awful wallop Monday when it made a blanket raise of from 10 to 100 per cent on all Carter county taxable values and checked it back to the county commissioners here to take action.

The excise board of Carter county will be called into session immediately and steps taken to either protest or comply with the action of the state board.

Land was the particular mark at which the state board aimed. And this land included all real estate in Ardmore and Carter county, which was raised an even 10 per cent. This action upon the part of the state board is causing a protest by the small property owner and the owners of larger holdings who rendered their property at its full value originally.

But protesting will avail very little if the figures issued are allowed to remain.

Sheep and goats were assessed 100 per cent more, also the same rise applies to diamonds and jewelry.

According to these figures the assessed valuation of Carter county, inclusive of public service corporations, will be approximately thirty-five million dollars. Of this amount approximately twelve and one-half million will be represented by the city of Ardmore.

It was expected that the state board would raise taxable values in the county, but never to the extent they did, and it is anticipated that the board of county commissioners will go to Oklahoma City and register a protest.

Following is a list of lands and commodities raised by the state equalization board:

Lands, including real estate in the city and county, 100 per cent.
Jewelry, including diamonds and watches, 100 per cent.
Pool tables, 100 per cent.
Sheep and goats, 100 per cent.
Law libraries, 100 per cent.
Abstract books, 100 per cent.
Hogs, 60 per cent.
Steam engines, 50 per cent.
Wagons, 50 per cent.
Office furniture, 50 per cent.
Opera house, furniture and fixtures, 50 per cent.
Oil and gas refining properties, 50 per cent.
Cotton gins and other manufacturing plants in city and county, 50 per cent.
Cattle, 33 1/3 per cent.
Merchandise, 33 1/3 per cent.
Horses, 30 per cent.
Platform scales, 30 per cent.
Pipe lines, 30 per cent.
Hotels and restaurants, 25 per cent.
Threshing machinery, 25 per cent.
Carriages, 20 per cent.
Farm machinery, 10 per cent.

The county court house has been a busy place all day and those most affected are wanting to know what steps to take to prevent this raise. Many are said to have offered to sell for less than the increase the state board will put on their property and the affair is in considerable of a muddle which will absorb the attention of the board of county commissioners for several days to come.