No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 11 



LIVE STOCK HUSBANDRY. 



The latest statistics uiioii the subJLcl show thai the domestic ani- 

 mals, ineludiug poultry, in rennsjlvaisia have an estimated value of 

 |152,20o,G18, and in a "^single year the animal products of the State, 

 poultry included, amounted to nearly |l()(),UOI),UttO, while in milk 

 production the same report shows that Pennsylvania leads all other 

 states of the Union. These figures show the necessity of taking 

 care of these great interests. The demand for meat, poultry, eggs, 

 milk and butter, as well as horses for general use, is constantly 

 increasing, owing, in a large measure, to the rapid development of 

 our manufacturing and mining industries, and the Pennsylvania 

 farmer should carefully study the subjects of breeding and feeding 

 farm animals so as to secure the best possible results. It is gratify- 

 ing to note that the tendency is in this direction. The best blood is 

 being sought for, stock breeders' associations are being formed and 

 an increased interest in animal industry is quite apparent. 



TAXATION. 



The question of tax equalization is certain to appear at regular 

 intervals. Its periodical appearance in Pennsylvania seems to b" 

 dependent upon the general condition and prosperity of the agricul- 

 tural interests of the State. This opinion is based upon observa- 

 tions covering nearly a score of years. While the manufacturing 

 interests of the State have reached a point of almost unprecedented 

 prosperity, agriculture has partaken of this prosperity and the farmer 

 has been able to meet all his obligations, including taxes, with less 

 hardship than could be done under less favorable circumstances, 

 and as a result the subject of equalization of taxes has been less 

 prominent than in some former years. 



The fact still remains that there are some inequalities that should 

 be remedied. It is true that many of the unjust inequalities that 

 exist, as well as much of the excessive taxation that is complained 

 of, are due to incompetent and unreliable local officials. For example, 

 there is a marked difference in assessed values placed upon both 

 real estate and personal property, not only in certain distinct local- 

 ities, but throughout the sixtj^-seven counties of the Commonwealth. 

 There are but few counties in which the assessed valuation of real 

 estate represents its true value. An investigation made several 

 years ago showed that in some counties valuations for assessment 

 purposes were less than one-fourth actual value, while in a few 

 others the valuation represented the true worth of the property. 

 In one count}' the real estate was assessed at one-fourth its value, 

 and the county tax rate was sixteen mills, while in an adjoining 

 county where property was fairh' assessed the rate was but one 

 and one-half mills. If assessors would value all property at its 

 real worth, or for what it would sell in open market, at a separate 

 bona-fide sale, a great step would be taken toward a settlement of 

 the vexatious tax problem. 



In some counties the tax rate is unnecessarily high because proper 

 care is not taken in the selection of the men who have in their 

 hands the business management of county affairs. In one county a 

 jjublic building will be erected by a competent and careful board 



