The Timber Tax Trap: How Snohomish County’s Wealth Was Slipping Away

I have had it in contemplation for some time to write a short article for a local paper concerning the importance of removing the taxation of timber lands in Snohomish County. It is well known that logging is the chief interest in our county, and largely exceeds that of agriculture. Heretofore agricultural and other lands have been assessed at the same value, viz: $2.50 per acre. This is unfair and unjust. The farming lands have an added value each year by reason of more extensive clearings, larger barns, water houses, fences &c.; whereas the timber lands are only of value while the timber remains upon the same.

Now we are comparatively a young county, and extremely desirous to attract, within our borders at least our share of the wealth and money coming into our Territory on the stream of immigration. As yet, we have no county buildings—our court is not quite worth its face value nor are we wholly free from debt. These things must be remedied if we would attract capital to our county. And now before our timber wealth is exhausted, is our only opportunity to place ourselves in that desirable condition.

The large mill companies although holding thousands of acres of our best timber, still have their agents exploring our forests as each township is surveyed, and are fast staking upon all our hunt timber lands, and no wonder; for their taxes are chiefly paid in scrip purchased at half its value upon an assessed valuation of $2.50 per acre. These claims in all justice should be taxed upon an assessment of ten dollars per acre.

They are held as profitable investment until small loggers—between whom there is such a strong competition at present as to almost exclude all profit—shall have exhausted themselves, when they will step in and monopolize the business, leaving us in a few years but flat stumps upon which to assess taxes for the payment of our debts and the erection of a court-house and jail.

I trust our County Commissioners will give this matter their earnest attention, for ere long it will be too late. I have urged this policy at our last meeting, and it is an obviously just that I do not think it will meet with a single objection save from the mill Companies themselves; and I do not doubt that they will accept it without a murmur, for they must have wondered why it has not been done long ago. This plan will compel these companies to operate upon their own lands, thereby furnishing employment to a greater number of men, and unlocking our actual wealth which is now locked up for a long time.

It will at one stroke make our redundancy that much less, and it will give our County Seat an enhanced commercial value. It will enable us to finish a payment upon our county office, purchase a safe, build a jail in View this matter wholly aside from any personal interest or prejudice. I have been identified with and honored by Snohomish County... I hope it will be the result at the next election.