TAX ADMINISTRATION

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naturally desire to reduce friction to a minimum. Finally,
the state property tax is a factor, in that a relatively low
valuation in a particular county means a proportionately
smaller contribution to the state.

Valuations for the General Property Tax
The data that comprise Tables 41, 42, and 43 represent
the valuations! as approved by the State Board of Equalization,
 with the exception of the valuations for the merchants’
and manufacturers’ tax, which are not subject to approval by
the Board. Table 41 is a summary table and shows the total
property valuations for the years 1917 through 1929 distributed
 among the principal classes of property, and in
Chart 4 the total valuations for taxes of 1917, 1921,1925, and
1929 distributed among the principal categories of property
are shown graphically. The total valuation for property
taxes, including the private car tax, amounted to $4.9 billion
for taxes of 1929. Of this amount, 729, represented the
value of real estate—a larger proportion than in any other
year of the period. Personal property accounted for approximately
 12.8%, of the total; public utility valuations,
for 10%; and merchants’ and manufacturers’ valuations, for
a little more than 59%.
Conditions during the period for which data are given
were very troublesome for administrators of the general
property tax. The factors influencing values changed with
unusual rapidity, particularly during the first half of the
period. From 1917 through 1921 assessors had to confront
not only rapid changes in real values but also rapid variations
 in the common denominator of value, the dollar. The
fluctuations in the purchasing power of the dollar tended to
complicate the attempts of the assessors to secure uniformity.
In more recent years farm values have declined and have
become a special problem in the assessment process.
In valuing property for taxes of 1921 a concerted effort
was made to raise valuations to a level nearer actual value,
The increase in total valuation amounted to approximately

1 The valuations as approved by the State Board of Equalization are final. However,
 before computing taxes payable the county clerks make certain corrections
occasioned by duplicate assessments and other errors in the assessment process,
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