GENERAL COMPARISON.

While the general result of the investigation as to proportionate assessments, are clearly brought out in the text analysis of the various tables, there are a few comparisons which may with profit, be set forth in the present place.

Reference to the table on page 61, will show that the Grand List of the State on October first, 1895, was $444,321,927.00, an increase over 1894 of $30,062,971.00, a condition most gratifying and for which the people of Connecticut have reason to be most sincerely thankful, not merely for the amount of the increase of revenue to the towns thus secured, but more particularly because the Assessors of some towns have deemed it their duty to uphold the majesty of the law, and insist that in their towns at least, property should be set in the list at its actual market value.

Further comparison, however, reveals the fact that the Grand List of 1894 was $2,064,296.00 less than in 1893. Examinations of the returns from the different towns for those two years, show that this condition is explained by the fact, that the town of Bridgeport reduced the amount of its Grand List from $54,301,107.00, in 1893, to $46,760,148.00, in 1894, the decrease in this one town alone, it will be noticed, being more in amount than the reduction in the entire State. And, in this connection, it should be stated that the Grand List of Bridgeport, in 1895, has grown to $56,847,856.00, by reason, it is said, of the close observance by the Assessors of that town, of the State Law having reference to the valuation of property for purposes of taxation at full value.

It may be added, that the Grand List of the entire State has increased in five years (1891-1895) $71,447,480.00, or 19.2 per cent. Thus, it would seem, that the increase of taxable property hardly keeps pace with the natural increase in population and wealth, which can be accounted for in no other way than by the continued undervaluation of ratable real estate, and the habitual concealment of large amounts of personalty. The low rate of assessment, in many large towns, while keeping the amount of the Grand List at a low figure, has no appreciable effect in lessening the amount paid in taxes, for, the lower the ratio of assessment, the higher the rate of tax, and, of course, a lower per cent. of tax would be the result, did the rule prevail of assessing at full value.

LIST OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE STATE RATABLE BY LAW ON THE FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER, 1895.

Νο

Personal observa

tion.

Personal obser- By visiting vation.

mercantile es-
tablishments
and personal
investigation.

As returned

rule. signed a certain dis-rance Stock as by the owner.
trict, and personal returned by offi-
knowledge of value cials; other per-
is used in making ap-sonal estate as re-
praisal.
turned by owners.

No

Sworn list of own- Insurance and Assessed at
rule. ers and general in- Bank Stock as re-what is consid.
formation possessed turned. Other ered to be fifty
by the Assessors. personal property per cent. of
as returned by average stock
the owners.
on hand for the
year.

No By Assessors knowl- Sworn statement
rule. edge of the value of of owner.
property in their re-
spective districts.

Sworn statement of owner.

Knowledge of As- Inquiry and per- By personal sessors of improve-sonal examina-investigation. ments made, and tion.

recent sales of prop

erty in immediate vi

cinity.

No

Assessors knowl- Sworn list of Owner's state

rule. edge of the value of owners.

adjoining property

with which compari

sons are made.

ment.

E

rule. the Assessors usually vass the town and sworn state

have knowledge of ascertain as near ment.
the value of all real as may be the amt.