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<br />ASSESSORS' REPORT.
<br />Our last annual report foreshadows, to some extent, cer-
<br />tain matters contained in the following report for 1898.
<br />We noted the fact that the tax rate would not be lowered
<br />from that of 1897, and we find that in spite of all efforts to
<br />the contrary, the rate has actually increased, a fact which
<br />has forcibly impressed itself upon most of our citizens by
<br />this time. The rate which in 1897 was $15.00 per thousand
<br />has risen in 1898 to $17.50. The reason for this, is, of
<br />course, beyond the control of your assessors ; in 1897 the
<br />town expended (as assessed) $77,340.41, while in 1898 the
<br />assessment was $94,561.01. The Bank and Corporation
<br />Tax was drawn upon to stein the tide, as usual, and $1.00
<br />to $1.50 per thousand was thus saved.
<br />Referring to the proposed lowering of the valuations of
<br />old buildings, as embodied in our last report, we would say
<br />that a large reduction on that line has been made in the as-
<br />sessment of the present year and we still advise a continu-
<br />ance in that line, but we have made a gain in real estate over
<br />last year, notwithstanding this reduction. Much of this has
<br />been upon land, more particularly where water has been in-
<br />troduced during the past year, notably in North Lexington,
<br />where more than a mile and a quarter of pipe was laid and
<br />where the assessment on the land was raised accordingly.
<br />Referring to page 120 of last year's report, we used the
<br />following language, which it may be well at this time to re-
<br />produce and embody in the report for 1898. " We urge all
<br />tax -payers to comply with the law and file their schedules
<br /><< with the assessors, that they may not in any way consider
<br /><< themselves aggrieved by their tax on personal estate, rest-
<br /><< ing assured that if they/ do not give us the information, we
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<br />4 shall supply it according to our best judgment, and assess
<br />" accordingly."
<br />Acting on the above caution, we made some radical and
<br />sweeping changes in the assessments of personal estates,
<br />with the result that we have made a gain of over $100,000
<br />on personal property from last year. We still admonish the
<br />tax -payers that the law must be observed and schedules
<br />filed, or we shall assess as our best judgment dictates, re-
<br />membering, as we all must do, that one of the greatest
<br />causes of discontent with our social system is the fact that in
<br />many communities a regular cold-blooded trade is made with
<br />property -owners to allow them to make their own valuations
<br />on personal estate, and in return for this illegal and perjured
<br />prostitution of the town's honor the benefit of residence is
<br />conferred, with its attendant personal tax. The good old
<br />town of Lexington has been exempt from this unclean
<br />species of traffic, and the present board of assessors is in
<br />line with the standard set by our predecessors.
<br />We have carefully verified, as far as possible, all shares of
<br />banks and corporations held by residents of Lexington and
<br />have made a considerable gain in both kinds of securities.
<br />This gain, however, is more than offset by the change of the
<br />statute relating to street railways, by which the West End
<br />and Boston Elevated shares of Lexington residents are no
<br />longer set to Lexington, making the town poorer by from
<br />$1,200 to $1,500 per year. This may affect the standing
<br />of the Bank and Corporation tax to such an extent that it
<br />may not be possible to apply it toward the reduction of the
<br />tax rate by practically taking care of the State and County
<br />Tax, as heretofore.
<br />We have, in addition to our other duties, compiled a
<br />transcript from the Registry of Deeds at East Cambridge, of
<br />all Lexington transfers of real estate from May lst, 1897,
<br />to May 1st, 1898, thus giving to the town what . few places
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