Our Past Is Present July 26, 2017

July 26, 2017

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story is about the price of land in our area in 1914.  It was in the summer of 1914 that assessors in Junction City and Geary County had completed their work.  From a glance through the rolls, it appeared that some citizens were of the opinion that in addition to having the higher rate of taxes to pay for city expenses, those who lived in the city were also assessed a higher rate based on valuation of their property.  There were many hundreds of acres of good bottom land within three miles of Junction City.  None of which could be bought for less than $125 to $250 an acre and none of which was assessed at over $75 an acre.

 At the same time there were plenty of pieces of property in the city that could be bought for the assessed value.  Taking the imaginary line along the southwest corner of the city, in Sheridan Heights addition, the lots then in use as a pasture, were assessed at a rate of $350 an acre.  While adjoining land across the imaginary line used also for pasture for the same livestock, but just outside of the city was assessed at $70 an acre. 

            In looking over the various valuations, other odd things were noticed.  One township in the county was found to have horses of a certain age that averaged being worth 30 percent less than similar horses in any other township in the county. This was according to the Deputy Assessor. 

            Even today, we tend to be hopeful that the assessor is fair and accurate when assigning a figure related to the amount of taxes we will need to pay.

            Well, that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.