The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-01-08

The assessment, by Allen Gillcy
lately assessor of Calcasien parish, oil
the road bed and right of way in this
parish of the Louisiana Western Rail
road, was the sum of 81, 300, 900 and
Of its other property in this parish
Sl1l,350. This assessment was after.
wards submitted to arbitrators, for re-
vision, and the arbitrators assessed the
road-bed and right of way at 100000
and the other property at s7s,250-
The railroad company then served on
the assessor notice of its intention to
appeal from the decision of the arbi-
traitors, and, the assessor having turned
the assessment rolls over to the sheriff,
the railroad company obtained from
our District Judge rule on the sheriff
and tax collector to show cause why
this last assessment should not be re-
duced, claiming that it was excessive.
On the trial of that rule, on or about
the 3lst ultimo, at chambers, the rail-
road company offered the following
evidence:
LIST. A copy of a letter, dated Aug.
Is, 1880, to Geo. Pandely, of Morgan's
La. and Texas railroad, from the Au-
ditor of the State, stating that while
he, the Auditor, had no authority to
assess the road, he thought $4,000
mile would be fair assessment of that
road in the several parishes through
which ii runs.
sdly. A dieter, dated Sept. Is, 1880.
from the State Auditor to J. G. Par
kerson, Of tbs L. w. r. r., referring
to the above named letter to Mr. Pan
dely.
3dly. A certificate by the sheriff
and tax collector of Lafayette parish,
showing that the road-bed and right of
way of the Louisiana Western railroad
in Lafayette parish had been assessed
at $500 per mile.
4thly. Testimony of A. ]. Perkins
that he considered $4,000 per mile
would be fair assessment, and giving
his reasons therefor.
5thly. Testimony of VIM. =. Norris
that he thought an assessment, for tax
alton, at the rate of fifty per cent. of
the actual cost of the property would
be a fair assessment, and giving his
reasons therefor
No evidence was offered by counsel
for the sheriff.
The Judgment of the court recites
that considering the evidence, and
the argument of counsel, and that
judgment reducing the assessment of
the road-bed and right Of way to $4,000
per mile would represent the wishes of
all parties in interest, claimed on the
one part and admitted on the other, it
Is ordered and decreed that the assess
ment of the road-bed and right of way
in Calcasieu parish be reduced to $4,000
per mile for the 70 miles of the road
in said parish, or an aggregate sum of
ea6o,oo0 for the purposes Of taxation;
the assessment of the other property
OF the Company in said parish to re.
main at the assessment thereof origin
ally made.'
Immediately after the above rule
was tried, and the judgment thereon
became known, q great many persons
who were not present at the trial of
the rule expressed good deal Of in
dignation at the result of the trial.
We give the above. statement of facts,
IN Justice TO the District Judge. He
could not have fixed higher asscss-
rnsnt than $4,000 per mile without 60
ing outside of and beyond the evil
ltience before him, and there is an in
timasion in his decision that counsel
tor both parties to the rule agreed
that such assessment would be salts
factory to their clients.
M -------~----nnus~------------ 4ss3s n
livery FAMILY, WlrHour Excsr-
rIoF, in City, Village, and Country,
will find il highly nscfnl to constantly
read the American Agricultural. Til
abonnds in plain, practical, reliable in-
formation, most yaInsbls for indoor
a. vel as outdoor work and comfort,